Tenant stabs landlord through the arm in murder attempt

Alayna Shulman

Redding police say a landlord-tenant dispute Sunday morning turned violent when a 25-year-old man stabbed his landlord through the arm in an attempt to kill her.

Cpl. Chris Jacoby said landlord Mary Ann Beal, 59, called 911 about 9 a.m. to report that her tenant in the 6000 block of Emerald Lane had stabbed her and ran away.

Dispatchers at the time said a verbal argument had already been reported at the residence before the stabbing call. By the second call, the tenant, Landon Gregory Chapman, allegedly had stabbed Beal with an 8-inch butcher knife. Jacoby said the knife completely penetrated Beal’s right bicep, and the handle broke off during the assault, though Beal was still able to pull out the blade and seek medical care herself.

Beal told officers she confronted Chapman that morning about several recent incidents, including the air being let out of her tires, Jacoby said. There also had been reports at the residence of bikes being tampered with, he said.

When Beal confronted him, Chapman reportedly said he wasn’t happy with his living situation and wanted his money back. But when Beal refused, he allegedly went into his bedroom and came back with the knife and stabbed Beal as she was sitting on the couch.

An acquaintance of Beal’s followed Chapman until officers arrived, and an officer and police dog searched the area and eventually found Chapman on the 6800 block of Center Street, Jacoby said. Chapman surrendered without incident, Jacoby said, and allegedly told responding officers that he meant to kill Beal during the assault. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Source: redding