‘He has a knife’: Man accused of stabbing employee at Nashville airport
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man was arrested at the Nashville International Airport on Tuesday after police said he stabbed an employee.
According to court documents, the incident took place around midnight near the arrivals area of the airport on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
An officer said they witnessed employees rushed inside stating, “he has a knife!” as they made their way to the second floor of the airport. One of the employees was reportedly “bleeding profusely” from his arm.
While outside, an officer made contact with Matthew Howell, 39, who allegedly appeared to be agitated.
A folding key knife, which was attached to a lanyard, was found on the ground and fully extended, per an arrest report. Officers came outside and searched Howell to see if he had any additional weapons.
Police said Howell’s name came back clear for warrants, but dispatch advised that he had an “extensive criminal history of numerous crimes in multiple states.”
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When officers asked Howell what led to the incident, he allegedly told them that he asked employees if he could use one of their phones to make a phone call and the employees made anti-Semitic comments toward him. According to Howell, this led to a fight and he stabbed the employee in self-defense.
However, the employee who was stabbed told police that Howell asked if could use a phone to make a call and his supervisor offered a phone charger instead.
The employee said Howell then became agitated and got in the supervisor’s face, so he went between the two to create some distance. That’s when Howell allegedly shoved the victim with both hands and displayed a knife stating, “come at me.”
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An arrest report states Howell moved away from the employees but continued to circle the area around the victim before stabbing him during a second altercation.
After reviewing surveillance video, officers said they determined that Howell “displayed aggressive and threatening behavior that did not reflect self-defense.”
He was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct.
Howell is being held in Metro Jail on a $27,000 bond.
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