Knifing suspect vowed to kill

SWAMPSCOTT – “If I can’t have you, no one can,” Felix Manuel Mateo-Perez shouted before stabbing his ex-wife seven times Saturday outside the Jewish Rehabilitation Center.Yessenia Gonzalez, 33, of Salem, survived the 7 a.m. attack witnessed by two people, including one who told police he heard Perez shout out his death vow.Judge Stacey Fortes-White ordered Perez, 29, of 17 Congress St. Apt. 5, Salem, to appear at a dangerousness hearing scheduled for next Tuesday in District Court. It is unclear how long he will remain hospitalized in Salem Hospital with self-inflicted knife wounds, including two to his throat.Gonzalez was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday. Her stab wounds were determined to be non-life threatening but she was admitted with very low blood pressure.Witnesses to the attack saw Perez and Gonzalez arguing on a stairwell next to a parking area at the JRC. One of the witnesses saw Perez punch Gonzalez then brandish a knife as Gonzalez begged him to stop “for the sake of the children.”Gonzalez sustained wounds to her arms and chest. Police found a 10-inch kitchen knife at the scene of the attack. She told police Perez came at her from behind a Dumpster. Assistant District Attorney Dana Robinson, quoting Gonzalez, said Perez shouted at her during the attack, “Both you and I are going to die today.”Gonzalez works at the JRC, located off Paradise Road. Fortes-White presided over Perez’ bedside arraignment in Salem Hospital where he pleaded not guilty to charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and possession of a knife. He will remain in the hospital or at the house of correction in Middleton until next week’s hearing.Perez was arrested in 2008 for assault in Salem and has two other cases on file in Salem District Court.