Hagerstown man charged with attempted murder in stabbing claims self-defense
A Hagerstown man charged with attempted murder in a stabbing at a convenience store Monday evening told police that he acted in self-defense, according to Washington County District Court records.
Lacobe Terill Felton, 51, is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment in the stabbing of 31-year-old Kareem Abdul Roberts at the 7 Star Mini Mart at 200 W. Franklin St. in Hagerstown, court records show.
Felton was initially ordered held without bail, court records show.
District Court Judge Victoria J. Lobley ordered Tuesday afternoon's bail review hearing to be continued on Wednesday so the defense would have time to investigate whether Felton could wear a GPS monitor if he were to be released.
In West Virginia:One arrested in Jefferson County, W.Va., stabbing, one to hospital after road rage, fight
More:Teen charged with murder in weekend stabbings near Hagerstown: Sheriff's office
Police responded to the store at 7:21 p.m. and found Roberts with a life-threatening stab wound to the chest, according to the charging document filed against Felton.
Roberts was taken to Meritus Medical Center east of Hagerstown and later transferred to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, the charging document states. He was listed in critical condition Tuesday morning, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Police reviewed surveillance video and saw Roberts appear to make a comment toward the suspect, later identified as Felton, as he got out of his truck. The two men get into an argument that continues inside the store. Roberts is seen walking back and forth several times between Felton and the front door as they continue arguing. The last time Roberts approaches Felton, he is seen making a stabbing motion toward Roberts' chest, the document states.
City surveillance video showed Felton running away and later being dropped off by a car at his residence, where he was taken into custody, the document states.
At police headquarters, an emotional and tearful Felton told police that he went to the store to play the lottery and was confronted by Roberts, who made threatening comments toward him. Felton said that he feared for his safety because Roberts was bigger than him and that he couldn't leave the store because Roberts was blocking the doors while continuing to threaten him, the document states.
Felton said he repeatedly asked a store employee for help, and that when he feared that Roberts was going to attack him, he got out his cellphone and tried to call 911. Felton said he couldn't complete the call because Roberts continued to approach him, so he got out his knife and held it for protection, the document states.
Felton said that when Roberts came at him aggressively he struck him once in the chest with the knife "only in self-defense." Afterward, Felton said, he ran from the scene with numerous people chasing him and that one male threw a brick at him to try to stop him, according to the document.
"Felton was very cooperative during the interview and appeared to be very remorseful that he stabbed Roberts. Felton stated that he didn't want to stab Roberts but he was forced to protect himself," the document states.
During Tuesday's bail review hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Christina Palmer told Lobley that Felton had a record of drug charges in 1997, 1998 and 2001. She noted the seriousness of the charges related to the stabbing and asked Lobley to order that Felton continue to be held without bail.
Assistant Public Defender Robert Sheehan acknowledged that the charges against Felton are serious, but emphasized that Felton said in his statement to police that he was acting in self-defense and asked Lobley to release him "under appropriate terms."
He also noted that Felton had no criminal record for the past 20 years, while Roberts has assault charges pending against him.
Sheehan said that Felton wasn't a flight risk or a danger to the community.
"He wasn't the one who went looking for trouble," he told Lobley.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown man claims self-defense in stabbing following an argument
