Stabbing of teen probed by DA

By James Beaty
Senior Editor

April 29, 2008 01:08 pm

— Prosecutors in Latimer County plan to look through some conflicting reports before deciding what to do in connection with a stabbing which occurred in the Gowen area.
A juvenile was stabbed Thursday night following a confrontation between a landowner and some teenagers, Latimer County Assistant District Attorney Ron Boyer confirmed.
The youth later underwent treatment for a wound at the McAlester Regional Health Center.
He said no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.
“It’s still under investigation,” Boyer said today.
He said he is still waiting on some additional reports from the Latimer County Sheriff’s Department.
A group of five teenagers — three boys and two girls — were allegedly propperty when the stabbing occurred.
Boyer said some of the reports have conflicting stories.
“As nearly as I can tell, the boys were trespassing,” Boyer said.
He said reports said the two boys with pickups saw some mud on the land and decided to play in it with their pickups.
They were also setting live traps for raccoons, according to reports.
“The owner came out with another guy,” Boyer said.
According to allegations in the reports, some of the teens said the stabbing occurred when one of the boys put his hand out to shake hands with the landowner, Boyer said.
“The owner said he thought the guy lunged at him,” said Boyer.
The teens fled on foot, leaving behind two trucks and hiding in the woods. The wounded boy, with the aid of another youth, eventually made it to a neighbor’s house. He was later picked up by a medical helicopter in the parking lot of the Hartshorne industrial complex.
Boyer said he hopes to have all of the reports from the Sheriff’s Department by Wednesday. He said he and District Attorney Jeff Smith, who is based in Poteau, plan to review the reports and then come to a decision.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.