City man charged with attempting to stab man over $15 waives preliminary hearing

A city man charged with attempting to stab a man on a downtown street during a dispute over $15 will have his case proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Michael Goyco, who has no fixed address, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Andrew LeFever on March 2 on a single count each of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon.

Goyco, 48, is accused of stabbing the victim in the chest with a knife in the 100 block of North Duke Street the evening of Nov. 21. The 37-year-old victim was hospitalized for days and underwent major life-saving surgery as a result of being stabbed.

Speaking to police days later, the victim said he was walking down the street shortly after 6 p.m. when Goyco approached him and confronted him over an alleged $15 debt.

According to the victim, Goyco grabbed him by the shoulder, then retrieved a kitchen knife from a bag and stabbed him once in the chest. After stabbing him Goyco then placed the knife back into the bag and walked away, the victim said.

An eyewitness to the incident corroborated the victim’s story. Footage from Lancaster Safety Coalition cameras depicted a confrontation between Goyco and the victim, also corroborating the victim’s version of events.

Goyco remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Travis Briggs filed the charges.

Chief of the Major Crimes Unit Mark Fetterman will prosecute the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.