Michael McKnight, 47

Michael McKnight, 47, a black man, was stabbed near the Olympic Hotel at the intersection of 7th and Kohler streets in downtown Los Angeles, and died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 26.

A woman found him lying with a stab wound to the chest in the roadway, said Lt. Paul Vernon of LAPD Central Division.

Later, investigators pieced together the quarrel that preceded his death. Apparently, McKnight had confronted James Harvey Stewart, a white, 53-year-old long-haul trucker, saying Stewart owed him $20. McKnight dwells on Skid Row; Stewart was just visiting.

McKnight demanded the $20 and grabbed Stewart. Stewart stabbed him. McKnight threw Stewart down, and stumbled, wounded, down the street.

Stewart ran. The knife-carrying trucker later called police from Torrance Memorial Hospital, where he was being treated for a broken arm. He was arrested, but prosecutors ruled the killing a justifiable homicide, so he wasn't charged. 

Comments

[jeffrey mcknight]

number one, my brothers name is not michael. he's not 47and i'm not buying that crap about him attacking another person over twenty dollars.there's more too that story then you people are telling. alot of things don't add up.The detectives report,the coroners report and the one who killed my brother. What about the other 2 guys that where there.

[b respectful]

Justifiable homicide are you serious? This wasnt a self defense type thing cause if he was actually trying to fight, why not just fight back? Why must u pull a knife and stab to kill? Some people just dont care. RIP

Jeffrey Mcknight why dont you shed some truth on this story. I wanna hear the real thing

[J. Hoffman]

LA Law -> Proven UNJust again.
The story is full of holes and questionable commentary!
3rd paragraph->
1. "pieced together" - with what accuracy or proof or corroboration?
2. "white, 53-year-old long-haul trucker" - that part alone was telling me the outcome of this story and that he was going to be found innocent.
3. Questions? Who, what, and why was a long-haul trucker visiting
skid row!?
If there were other persons involved, why were they left out of
the story?
(was it to make Mr. white, 53-year-old more creditable?)
4. "Stewart ran." - Notice he didn't call the police to report the incident until much later. If innocent, why not IMMEDIATELY. Why not make sure someone who was stabbed got some medical attention too!?

FINAllY! Since when do the prosecutors do the RULING!? What happened to the court system? We even have dead black men being proven guilty without fair representation and investigation OR the input of a judge or jury.

Makes me question whether to visit and spend my money in LA.

[jeffrey mcknight]

you have a blackman standing 7ft tall, that has never been violent or agressive.he's done alot of things but over 20 dollars come on. another life lost trying to live the american dream and CALI. etc.... AT THAT HEIGHT ,AND THE HISTORY, IT WAS NOTTING BUT FEAR AND MURDER.

[chuck]

torrence is a good distance from skid row.