A man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a teenager near Waterfront Park following Thunder Over Louisville. A family says the teen was injured while trying to protect them.
Bristol Staisel, 12, attended Thunder on Saturday to watch the fireworks for the first time. She was also selling snacks at the event to save money for theater camp.
Later that night, as they were leaving the fireworks show, Bristol’s mother claims a man approached them and made explicit sexual remarks directed at her daughter.
“I heard part of what he said. And when I heard that, I kind of snapped. And I’m like — she’s 12,” said Kristen Staisel, Bristol’s mother. “He said something about, ‘never too young to just have fun’. And I just kept trying to yell to get anyone’s attention. I’m not a large person. I needed some form of backup.”
Kristen said she stepped between the man and her daughter and began shouting for help. She said a group of teenagers nearby heard her, and one of them — a 15-year-old boy — immediately stepped in.
“They didn’t need anything else other than to know that they had to protect a child. And that’s what they did. 100%,” she said.
Louisville Metro Police confirmed that the 15-year-old boy was stabbed during a confrontation with a man they identified as Vasilis Sakellaridis. Officers arrested him after he fled the scene carrying a knife and homemade brass knuckles. He now faces charges including assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and fleeing police.
“Some other mama’s baby did get hurt to protect mine. And that breaks my heart, still,” Staisel said.
The 15-year-old’s mother said he only needed three stitches. She sent an update saying he’s doing better now.
In a statement, the teen’s mother said: “I’d like to start off by saying thank you to God for protecting (my son) and giving him and his friends the courage to intervene on behalf of another innocent child and her mother. He’d like everyone to know that he is doing great and will make a full recovery. He says that he doesn’t feel like a hero. He believes he was at the right place at the right time and that everyone should help others in need, and he wants to say thank you to his friends and the community for the overwhelming gratitude and high praises during this time.”
Bristol is already thinking about what she wants to do next.
“I want to make him a bracelet. I need to find out his favorite color,” she said.
Although Bristol has never met the boy, her mother says they will both remain forever grateful for what he did.
“I don’t know what would have happened,” Bristol Staisel said.
Vasilis Sakellaridis is set to be arraigned Monday morning.
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