A Benton City man was arrested for his alleged involvement in a Sunday stabbing that injured three people, including one who had to be transported to the hospital.
Robert Herman LeCoque, 37, of Benton City is charged with seven felonies — three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful use of a weapon — after he cut two people with a knife and stabbed another person several times, according to a news release issued by the Mexico Public Safety Department.
Officials say one stabbing victim was transported to University Hospital by the Audrain Ambulance District with two stab wounds to the chest and two additional stab wounds to other areas of the body. Officers later learned Victim 1 had suffered a hemothorax that required emergency surgery. According to the MPSD release, the person is now in stable condition.
The other two victims were treated at the scene for multiple stab wounds to their hands and legs but were released to seek additional medical care on their own, according to the probable cause statement.
On Sunday, at approximately 12:32 a.m., MPSD responded to reports of a disturbance involving someone with a knife at a bar in the 100 block of South Jefferson Street.
According to the probable cause statement, LeCoque had caused a disturbance at a Mexico bar by climbing onto the stage while a band was performing. When patrons attempted to remove LeCoque, he became angry and a physical altercation ensued.
Witnesses reported seeing LeCoque repeatedly stab the victims before fleeing on foot. Officers located the bloody knife used in the assault behind a dumpster outside of the bar.
At approximately 1:41 a.m., LeCoque contacted Audrain County Joint Communications to report that he had been involved in a fight at the bar and had accidentally stabbed his friend, according to the probable cause statement. LeCoque provided his location and officers arrested him without incident less than a mile from the crime scene near Huntingfield Road and Jefferson Road.
The Audrain County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted MPSD with the arrest.
During an interview with investigators, LeCoque admitted that no one else involved had a weapon but stated that he produced the knife and began swinging in self-defense. He admitted to stabbing one of the victims but claimed he was unaware other victims were involved. LeCoque also identified the knife recovered by officers as the one he used during the incident.
A breath test, administered more than three hours after the stabbing, indicated a blood alcohol level of 0.126%, according to the probable cause statement.
LeCoque is currently being held without bond at the Audrain County Jail due to a long criminal history spanning from 2006-20 that includes multiple assault offenses and convictions for assault on law enforcement officers, according to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shelby Park.
