Suspect claims self-defense in central Columbia killing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused of murder in the deadly stabbing of another man in a central Columbia park told police he was defending himself, court documents say.

Demetrice M. Tatum, 38, of Columbia, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in a deadly Monday night stabbing at Douglass Park. He was in the Boone County Jail on Tuesday without bond.

Police identified the victim as Kejuan Allen, 22, of Columbia.

Tatum was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries and told another person at the hospital that Allen hit him in the head with a bottle, the statement says.

Another witness told a detective that the assailant in the fight, later identified as Tatum, used a stun gun on the victim before cutting his throat and stabbing him 20 times, the statement says.

Surveillance video of the incident corroborated the witness story, the statement says.

Police say Tatum used a folding knife with a 6-inch blade.