Police Arrest Suspect For Interstate-45 'Tent City' Stabbing
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas police have arrested a homeless man who they say killed a man living in a 'tent city' under Interstate-45, near downtown.
Bennie Charles Valentine has been charged with Murder and Aggravated Assault and is being held in the Dallas County jail on $500,000 bond.
It was the afternoon of February 16 when police were called to tent city at 2600 Hickory Street. Someone had reported that there had been a stabbing or cutting.
When officers arrived at the encampment they found a man, who has yet to be identified, had been stabbed to death and Valentine admitted he had done it.
Investigators say the incident happened after Valentine and a homeless woman got into an argument. According to witnesses, Valentine grabbed the woman and the victim tried to separate the two. Valentine then stabbed the man several times with a knife. The homeless woman was cut when she tried to intervene, but he injuries were not life threatening.
Once at police headquarters, police say Valentine voluntarily gave a statement admitting that he cut both victims.
The man stabbed to death is only described as a black male between 50 and 55-years-old. Police and workers at the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office continue to try and positively identify the victim.
The homeless encampment under I-45 has been a source of concern for police and Dallas City leaders. Earlier this month, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) agreed to place "no trespassing" signs on the property.
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