Sailor in good condition
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Buffalo Township sailor who was stabbed multiple times Friday outside the naval medical center has improved to good condition.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Powell, 25, reportedly was at the medical center base while transitioning out of the Navy. He joined the Navy in 2007, after graduating from Freeport High School.
Della Johnston, a relative and neighbor of Powell's parents, said he was conscious as of Saturday.
“He can't say much but he is writing,” she said.
Johnston of 302 Kepple Road said she has been in contact with Michael and Pamela Powell, the sailor's parents, who traveled to Virginia after learning of the stabbing.
Johnston described Powell as an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and riding ATVs.
Johnston said Powell, who she described as “a nice boy,” was stabbed numerous times, including in the neck and the side.
“He has liver damage,” she said. “He's got a long road to recovery.”
The Navy said Powell knew his assailant, Petty Officer 3rd Class Wilbur Garrett Harwell, who has been arrested. Investigators continue to try and determine a motive for the attack, although the Navy said the attack followed an argument between the men.
The attack sparked a lockdown of the base and manhunt before Harwell was arrested in Virginia Beach.
Powell's wife, Tina, told a Virginia newspaper that she became worried Friday when her husband failed to meet her with a car-seat for their 5-month-old child.
Her worse fears that something had happened to her husband were realized in a call to the base hospital.
The newspaper quoted a family member as saying that Powell suffered eight stab wounds.
Messages left with the base commander and Navy investigators were not answered this morning.
Eagle staff writer Will DeShong contributed to this report.
