Teen Charged with Murder After Stabbing Man to Death During Fight, Fleeing in Stolen Car

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Teen Charged with Murder After Stabbing Man to Death During Fight, Fleeing in Stolen Car

A 19-year-old Arkansas man, Anthony Lee Tabor, has been charged with second-degree murder and theft after allegedly fatally stabbing 34-year-old Michael James O’Malley during a fight and fleeing the scene in a stolen car.

The incident, which occurred in early April, has resulted in Tabor being arrested and held at the Crawford County Detention Center.

The Deadly Altercation and Escape

According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, police responded to a welfare check on April 6, 2024, when a body was found on the side of a road in Van Buren. The victim, later identified as O’Malley, was found with a fatal stab wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found that earlier that day, Tabor and O’Malley had engaged in a violent physical altercation. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the two men fighting during the early morning hours.

One witness stated that Tabor struck O’Malley, causing him to scream and fall backward. After the fight, Tabor allegedly returned to his vehicle—a car reported stolen from Little Rock, Arkansas, about 150 miles away—and yelled, “I’m a real deal killa!” before fleeing the scene.

Witness Accounts and 911 Call

Witnesses to the fight called 911 and alerted authorities, one of them describing the moment Tabor allegedly stabbed O’Malley. A recording of the call reportedly captured someone in the background saying, “[H]e just stabbed that dude.”

Robert Snider, another witness to the altercation, spoke to local CBS affiliate KSFM, stating, “When I tell you they were fighting, they were fighting. One guy was on top of the other, slamming his head into the curb.”

Snider attempted to intervene and called 911, but police were initially unable to locate the scene. O’Malley’s body was discovered later that day at around 11:20 a.m.

Investigation and Arrest

The investigation quickly led authorities to Tabor. The car he drove to and from the crime scene was located at an apartment complex where he lived, and a knife was discovered near his apartment.

Tabor had already been arrested for the theft of the vehicle when he was later charged with O’Malley’s murder. He is currently being held at the Crawford County Detention Center on a $255,000 bond.

Court Appearance and Future Proceedings

Tabor is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for his hearing. If convicted, he faces significant legal consequences for his actions, including a possible lengthy prison sentence.

The tragic killing of Michael James O’Malley highlights the consequences of a violent altercation escalating into a deadly confrontation. As Tabor awaits his court appearance, the community remains shaken by the brutal nature of the crime and the chilling statement allegedly made by Tabor after the incident.

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