Man brutally attacked with log and knife in Orange after giving homeless man ride to wooded campsite, police say

ORANGE — On Sunday, May 11, 2025, at approximately 8:24 p.m., Officer Sydney Richardson and Officer Andrew Starbard of the Orange Police Department were dispatched to the area of 73 Ball Street following a report of a disturbance.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Richardson and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“A male caller had been heard yelling that someone was drinking and driving and had attacked him in the woods,” Officer Richardson said. “The caller was then heard yelling at another party regarding the same issue before the line disconnected.”

Officer Richardson stated that upon arrival, Officer Starbard and he observed a male individual—later identified as Joshua Coulombe—emerge from the yard of 41 Ball Street.

“Coulombe’s face was covered in blood, and he stated that Shadey Tamayo had attacked him,” Officer Richardson said. “Coulombe explained that he had gone to the woods to drop off Tamayo’s belongings. When he exited his truck, Tamayo struck him on the side of the head with a stick approximately six inches thick. Coulombe fell to the ground, at which point Tamayo allegedly continued to punch him in the face multiple times.”

According to police, Shadey Tamayo, 41, is homeless in Orange, MA. Tamayo has previously had an address on Prospect Street in Orange, MA.

Officer Richardson stated that Coulombe reported he had attempted to call for help using his phone, but Tamayo grabbed it from his hand. Coulombe said that Tamayo then brandished a knife, holding the blade pointed downward, and ran toward him. Fearing for his safety, Coulombe said he turned and fled.

Coulombe was transported by Orange Ambulance to Athol Memorial Hospital for treatment. According to a public GoFundMe page created by his mother, Kathy Boudrieau Maki, Coulombe sustained serious injuries, including a shattered eardrum that required emergency surgery and resulted in hearing loss. So far, the GoFundMe page for Coulombe has raised $2,330.

“My son tried to help Shaydee. He doesn’t know him,” Maki said in an email to News Link Live. “My son lives in Orange and on Mother’s Day he asked him for a ride to his campsite as he’s homeless with all his stuff. My son helped pack his stuff in the back of his truck and when he got to the site in the woods Shaydee had him back in, and the minute my son got out of the truck, Shaydee hit him up side his head with a log then proceeded to jump on him and punch him in the face. He would of killed him.”

Officer Richardson stated that Tamayo was located at the top of Ball Street, advised that he was under arrest, and placed in handcuffs, which were double-locked and checked for proper fit.

Tamayo was secured in the rear of a cruiser and transported to the Orange Police Department.

“It should be noted when officers first approached Tamayo, he had a phone in his hand and he stated it was Coulombe’s phone,” Officer Richardson said. “Before transport to the station, Tamayo stated that he had sustained a head injury, claiming he had been struck with a stick by Coulombe and was feeling nauseous. Orange Ambulance was requested to the station, and Tamayo was transported to Athol Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Officer Starbard and I followed the ambulance to the hospital.”

Officer Richardson said that once Tamayo was medically cleared from Athol Memorial Hospital, he was transported back to the Orange Police Department for booking.

Tamayo’s bail was set at $10,000.

Tamayo was charged with the following:

1. Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (Stick)
2. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Knife)
3. Intimidation of a Witness

Tamayo was arraigned in Orange District Court on May 12, 2025. During his arraignment, a dangerousness hearing was held, during which he was deemed dangerous and ordered held without bail for 120 days, until Sept. 8, 2025. Tamayo’s next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for June 20, 2025.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place earlier this month, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time consuming.

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