A Gary man was charged with fatally stabbing his younger brother on Saturday over a rent money dispute.
Thomas C. Campbell, 59, is charged with murder. He is in custody and being held without bail, according to court records. He faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted.
Detectives were dispatched to the 1100 block of Taney Street in Gary on Jan. 3 for an apparent stabbing, according to the probable cause affidavit. Witnesses told police that Thomas Campbell had stabbed his brother Erik in the front yard. Erik Campbell, 53, later died from his injuries while en route to Methodist Hospital Northlake, court records state. He was stabbed in the left side of his neck, both sides of his chest, left arm, back and stomach.
The officer who first responded to the scene said he encountered Thomas Campbell, who was sitting on the porch steps of a residence and covered in a red, blood-like substance, records state. Another man was lying face down in a pool of red-like substance. Thomas Campbell told police that he was fighting with his brother and they were punching each other with closed fists, the affidavit states. Thomas Campbell said he thought Erik was reaching in his waist for something, so he pulled out a knife, blacked out and kept stabbing.
Police found a knife with a blood-like substance on the blade, which was located in the front yard, court records state.
A family member of the brothers told police that Thomas Campbell was sent to get rent money, which he doesn’t like to pay. Erik Campbell confronted Thomas about his failure to pay, which led to the physical fight, records state. A witness saw them on the ground and noticed Thomas Campbell had a knife, telling him to stop, but he continued to stab Erik.
Another witness saw Thomas leave the residence, then come back with his hand suspiciously in his pocket, the affidavit states. Erik saw this and wouldn’t let Thomas inside because he thought Thomas had a gun. The second witness went inside for safety, then re-emerged, noticing the brothers were fighting, court records state. Another man approached Thomas with the intent to take away the knife. He saw Erik Campbell on top of Thomas and it appeared Erik was giving up before Thomas stabbed him repeatedly, records state.
Surveillance camera footage from a nearby residence showed Erik Campbell pleading with Thomas to show him what’s in his pocket; Thomas Campbell’s right hand was concealed inside a hoodie pocket. Erik told him that he is always trying to scare people with his behavior, but he is not scared and asked to see what was concealed, the affidavit states. Erik mentioned that Thomas had pulled a knife on another man recently.
The brothers looked like they were preparing for a physical fight and Erik tries to disarm Thomas by swiping at it, court records state. Then Thomas engages his brother, with Erik moving backwards with his hands up for a fist fight. Thomas suddenly takes out the knife he had hidden in his pocket and starts stabbing Erik in the chest, neck and torso, records state. They both fall on the ground and Erik lands on top of Thomas.
Another person approaches Thomas, trying to get him away from Erik and yelling, the affidavit states.
Thomas Campbell is visible calling 911, saying he stabbed his brother and saying Erik threatened him with a gun. But the individual who subdued Thomas said Erik never pulled out a gun and none was recovered at the scene, court records state.
Thomas Campbell was interviewed by police, where he said he was running errands for a family member and was confronted by Erik when he returned. Thomas said it was a buildup of 20 years and knew it would get bad, as he claimed Erik was threatening to kill him, so he was in fear and tried to avoid it, records state.
He said Erik punched him in the eye, so he used a knife to defend himself. He said Erik constantly bullied him and wanted him dead, the affidavit states. Once he was informed Erik was dead, he no longer wanted to talk to police.
Thomas’ account was not consistent with surveillance footage as Erik is never shown punching anyone in the face or producing a weapon, court records state.