Pierce County prosecutors will not file charges against a 46-year-old man who fatally stabbed another man early Wednesday, saying he acted in self-defense.
The man had been arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of Stanley Howard. The 56-year-old Tacoma man was found dead in an alley off South 19th Street between South M Street and South Sheridan Avenue.
Howard and the younger man knew each other for several years, police said. They had an argument either late Tuesday or early Wednesday and Howard made threatening comments toward the younger man, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.
The two then parted ways but a while later, Howard showed up at the other man’s Hilltop home. He knocked on the door and called the man outside.
Both men had knives and Howard tried to attack the younger man, Fulghum said. A fight broke out and Howard was stabbed in the chest, Fulghum said. Howard walked away from the home.
A woman called police about 3:15 a.m. after seeing Howard’s body in the alley. He appeared to have been headed in the direction of his home, Fulghum said. A knife was found with his body.
The other man heard about the discovery and went to the scene. He talked to detectives about his fight with Howard and was arrested.
“He had no idea it was as serious as it ended up being,” Fulghum said.
stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com