A man in Gary, Indiana, identified by police as having a reluctance to pay rent, has been accused of fatally stabbing his brother during a dispute over a rental payment. Thomas Campbell, aged 59, was taken into custody and charged with murder after the death of his 53-year-old brother, Erik Campbell. The altercation erupted when Erik visited Thomas at home to collect rent on behalf of their mother.
The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation, with Thomas wielding a knife and inflicting multiple stab wounds on Erik. Surveillance footage captured the violent encounter over the payment between the two siblings. Erik was seen challenging Thomas about the contents of his hoodie pocket and attempting to disarm him before being stabbed in the arm, neck, chest, and stomach by Thomas.
Despite being rushed to Methodist Hospital Northlake, Erik succumbed to his injuries. Thomas, who called 911 for his brother, alleged that he acted in self-defense as Erik threatened him with a gun. Upon police arrival, Thomas was found covered in blood on his front porch, with Erik lying unresponsive beside him.
No firearm was discovered at the scene, and witnesses recounted seeing Thomas stab Erik in the front yard and recover a bloodied knife nearby. Thomas claimed that he blacked out during the altercation, believing his brother was reaching for a weapon, and continued to stab him, citing ongoing bullying as a factor.
Detectives revealed that the tension between the brothers had been brewing for two decades, with their mother noting Thomas’s aversion to paying rent. Thomas has been formally charged with murder and is currently detained at Lake County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 12, facing a possible 65-year prison sentence if convicted.