Brothers Charged In Ocean City Stabbing

OCEAN CITY - Two brothers were in custody this week facing attempted second-degree murder and other serious charges after allegedly stabbing two men during an altercation in front on an Ocean City hotel early Monday morning.

Around 2:15 a.m. on Monday, an Ocean City Police officer on routine patrol in the 49^th Street area was flagged down by two security officers at the Princess Bayside Hotel in reference to two stabbing victims lying on the pavement near the facility's front door. The hotel security officers told police two suspects in the stabbings were running southbound on the sidewalk along Coastal Highway.

Upon arrival on the scene, the officer observed to two stabbed men and identified them as Walter Ostrowski, 21, of Baltimore, and Steven Hutchins, 26, of Dundalk. Ostrowski was sitting and Hutchins was lying on the ground. Hutchins shorts and shirt were covered in blood and it was obvious he was suffering from a stab wound to the chest.

Ostrowski had been stabbed four times in the back with one of the stab wounds over his spinal cord. The officer put out a description of the suspects provided by witnesses and they were apprehended a short time later walking through the parking lot at 45^th Street Village. The suspects were identified as brothers Joseph Hill, 26, of Laurel, Md., and Christopher Hill, 29, of Jessup, Md. Also with the suspects was their sister, Stephanie Hill.

Back at the Princess Bayside, the initial officer on the scene started putting together a timeline of the events leading up to the stabbings. Ostrowski's sister, Sarah Ostrowski, told police she was at the bus stop at 49^th Street with her brother, Hutchins and another man when they were approached by Hill brothers and their sister.

One of the suspects asked the group if anyone had a cigarette, which was provided, but the apparent chance meeting touched off an altercation. The Hills allegedly asked Ostrowski and Hutchins if they wanted to fight two-on-two and a fistfight broke out. Sarah Ostrowski said the fight broke up after a few seconds, which was when she realized her brother Walter and Hutchins, who is her boyfriend, had been stabbed.

The hotel security guards said they did not witness the stabbings, but a witness at the scene told them he had seen the stabbings first hand. One of the security guards did observe a man, later identified as Joseph Hill, fold a knife and put it his shorts pocket as he fled the scene with his brother and sister.

When police questioned the Hills where they were detained around 44^th Street, Joseph Hill allegedly said, 'They punched my sister. I was just standing up for my sister. What the [expletive deleted] did you expect me to do?' The witness at 49^th Street was brought to 44^th Street and identified Joseph Hill as the stabber. The security guards also identified Joseph and Christopher Hill as the attackers in the fight.

Meanwhile, Hutchins and Ostrowski were both transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment. Ocean City EMS requested they flown there, but the state police helicopter could not fly due to a storm. Ostrowski, who suffered four stab wounds to the back, was treated and later released. Hutchins, who had received two stab wounds to the chest, was listed in serious but stable condition and is in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Joseph Hill has been charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts each of first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and carrying a deadly weapon with intent to injure. Christopher Hill has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault.