Man fatally stabbed in Tooele, 21-year-old suspect arrested, police say

TOOELE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A 21-year-old from Tooele has been arrested following a fatal stabbing at his residence late last night.

Isaac Daniel Gary Smith, 21, has been arrested and is facing a charge of murder. Documents say that Smith called 911 and reported that he was attacked by a family member’s friend and retaliated, saying he had “stabbed his a–.”

According to the Tooele City Police Department, officers responded in the area of 100 N and 100 E in Tooele City. At the scene, a 54-year-old man was located with critical injuries. Documents say that the responding officer located blood in front of the residence and an unlocked vehicle with the victim’s phone and wallet inside.

The victim was treated on scene and transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, police say.

Inside the home, the Tooele City Police officer allegedly located a trail of blood leading throughout the house and into a bedroom. The phone Smith used to contact 911 was inside the bedroom, alongside a 5-6 inch folding knife with what appeared to be blood on it.

The officer made contact with the homeowner, a family member of Smith, who said that the victim was a childhood friend and “visits infrequently.” The family member told police that the victim and Smith had no history, and Smith had seemed “unaffected by the victim’s visit.”

On that day, the family member told police, the victim had visited before they left for work. After he left and the family member went to work, the victim contacted them and said he had forgotten his wallet inside the residence. The family member gave him permission to return to the home and look for the wallet, knowing that Smith would be there to assist.

The family member said that they informed Smith the victim would be coming over, and “specifically told Mr. Smith not to cause any problems with the victim” because of concerns about Smith’s alleged mental illness. He allegedly promised the family member not to cause any issues, and the family member told the victim he could come over. They did not hear from either man afterward.

In a police interview with Smith, he confirmed that his family member had warned him the victim was coming over to look for something. He admitted to police that he had been self-medicating his mental illness with marijuana before the victim came over.

According to Smith, the victim returned around midnight, and Smith allowed him into the residence. Smith allegedly told police that the victim was acting “shady” while searching. He said he had confronted the victim about his “shady” behavior while they were both in the bedroom. The victim allegedly denied the allegation and tried to offer Smith cigarettes, reaching for his wrist.

According to documents, Smith said he felt threatened and pulled the knife from his back pocket, stabbing the victim. After being stabbed, Smith alleged that the victim “rushed” him and Smith began stabbing the victim multiple times in the head, neck, and stomach.

Police asked Smith if the victim could have been trying to escape instead of rushing him, and Smith admitted that it might have been the case. Smith also said that the victim had not posed a threat of serious injury or imminent death before he reacted.

Smith was arrested and is currently being held at the Tooele County Detention Center.