Acevedo suffered significant damage to her right eye and may require a transplant, police said.
HOLYOKE – Police do not believe that the liquid attacks that injured a 35-year-old woman last week and 43-year-old man in May are related in any way.
“Absolutely not, these two are not connected,” Capt. Arthur R. Monfette said, adding that residents need not be afraid that a random attacker is on the loose.
The woman, city resident Julia Albizu, was hit in the face with a cupful of an unknown liquid last Friday morning as she walked her dog down Berkshire Street, Monfette said.
Albizu, who was treated at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, suffered significant damage to her right eye and may require an eye transplant, Monfette said. She is now recuperating at home, he said.
Monfette said investigators believe the liquid that injured Alibzu was alkali-based, unlike the liquid, believed to be acid-based, that sent Julio Acevedo to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for treatment of second- and third-degree burns to his face, neck, chest and back.
The liquid that hit Albizu damaged her eye only and did not burn her skin, Monfette said. “Her face is fine,” he said.
Alibizu was attacked about 9 a.m. at she walked her dog near the railroad tracks. She told police that she did not recognize her attacker, described only as a skinny Hispanic male.
Acevedo was injured on May 5, at about 10:15 p.m., as he walked near the Kennedy Fried Chicken at 33 High St. police said.
Police said the suspect came up from behind the victim and threw liquid in his face. Acevedo also told police that he did not recognize his attacker, described as an Hispanic male, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall.
Police continue to probe the attacks.