Richard SmithA Chattanooga man has been charged with attempted murder and tampering with evidence after he allegedly stabbed a man in the back early Sunday morning.
Police responded to a report of an aggravated assault on Patten Parkway at 1:26 a.m. and found the victim bleeding from a stab wound in the middle of his back, according to court documents. The victim, Wesley Jackson, spoke quietly and paramedics said his lung might have been punctured.
Jackson said another man, Richard Smith, 58, followed him to the scene on a bike and became aggressive when they stopped. He turned to gather some of his belongings and Smith stabbed him with a knife approximately three inches in length.
Police did not find a knife at the scene and a security guard at the Honest Pint nearby did not see the stabbing. However, he did spot a man yelling and leaving the scene on a bicycle. Smith was located and detained less than a block away.
Smith initially told officers that Jackson was after him and couldn’t get away, even though Smith was on a bike. He later changed his story and said he stabbed Jackson because he felt threatened.