Combat veteran severely stabbed at Republic of Texas Rally, saved by other vets

A combat veteran was brutally attacked during an altercation at the Republic of Texas Rally in Austin over the weekend.

According to representative from the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, three women came into the association’s tent asking for help, saying a suspicious man was stalking them for the past three hours.

Rob Lewis, the public relations officer of the #23-7 chapter of the association, tells KXAN News, once a husband of one of the women arrived, the suspect lunged at him.

Combat vet Gregory Parkinson was stabbed twice while trying to stop the attacker.

KXAN News reports the suspect, Manuel Moreno, 47, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with bail set at $100,000.

The stabbing happened Sunday at around 4 a.m., and officers were told the Parkinson had multiple stab wounds and the Moreno ran into a heavily wooded area.

According to KXAN News, Parkinson told police he didn’t know the suspect.

Witnesses identified Moreno for officers and where he was hiding.

“It’s unfortunate for a man to go to war, receive a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Medal for Valor only to be brought down in his home city,” Lewis tells KXAN News. “If it were not for the act of some other brave vets he would have bled out on the spot.”

Lewis reports Parkinson is now doing recovering.

According to the ROT website, The Republic of Texas Rally celebrated its 22nd anniversary in 2017.

The ROT Rally brings bike riders and enthusiasts from all 50 states and international locations to Austin for the largest turnstile motorcycle bike rally in the United States.

The ROT Rally is held at the Travis County Expo Center, and is widely known for its downtown Austin bike parade, which closes off more than 50 city blocks and ends on Congress Avenue in front of the Texas State Capitol.

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