A man known for his reluctance to pay rent has been accused of fatally stabbing his brother during a dispute over rent collection. Thomas Campbell, aged 59, was arrested and charged with murder after allegedly attacking his brother, Erik Campbell, aged 53, at their home in Gary, Indiana.
The altercation escalated into a physical altercation, with Thomas wielding a knife and repeatedly stabbing Erik. Surveillance footage captured the brothers fighting over the rent payment, with Erik confronting Thomas about the overdue amount.
Erik was seen challenging his brother to reveal the contents of his hoodie pocket before trying to disarm him. Thomas then pulled out a knife and inflicted multiple stab wounds on Erik’s arm, neck, chest, and stomach. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Erik succumbed to his injuries on the way.
Thomas, who called 911 for his brother, claimed that he acted in self-defense because Erik had threatened him with a gun. No firearm was found at the scene, and witnesses reported seeing Thomas stabbing Erik in the front yard before discarding the bloodied knife.
According to police reports, Thomas admitted to pulling out the knife out of fear and claimed to have lost control during the altercation, alleging that Erik had bullied him for years. The tension between the brothers had been escalating for two decades, with their mother stating that Thomas had a history of avoiding rent payments.
Thomas has been charged with murder and is currently held at Lake County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 12, facing a potential sentence of up to 65 years in prison if convicted.
