Inset: Steven Shannon (Allen County Sheriff's Office). Background: The Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Google Maps).
An Indiana man is in jail after police said he went to his ex-girlfriend's house and attacked her new boyfriend with the intent to kill him.
Steven Shannon, 47, was charged with attempted murder in connection with an incident that took place at his former girlfriend's home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Sunday.
According to reporting by local CBS affiliate WANE, police responded to the woman's home around 9:30 p.m. and found a man who had been beaten. Several witnesses told officers that Shannon was allegedly the person responsible, and his ex-girlfriend told police that Shannon allegedly sent several threatening messages to her in which he said he was going to "battle" her new boyfriend.
According to court documents obtained by WANE, Shannon allegedly texted his ex-girlfriend, "if he's still there that means he's prepared to do battle," adding that the so-called "battle" would be "to the death."
Shannon allegedly went on to tell the woman via text that "if he's not willing to die for you and kill for you, he might want to [leave]."
Police said the woman told them she was in her garage with a group of friends, including her new boyfriend, when Shannon showed up uninvited and allegedly "ripped the door from the hinges" in order to make his way inside. A witness told police that Shannon said "I told you I'mma kill you," allegedly addressing the boyfriend after he broke down the door.
Once Shannon was in the house, he allegedly struck the new boyfriend "a few times" while the woman attempted to intervene. According to court documents, Shannon blamed the woman for the alleged attack he was committing.
Police spoke to the victim, who told them Shannon "came in and attempted to stab the [expletive] out of me," but would not provide more details. The man was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries including lacerations and stab wounds.
When police tracked down Shannon, he claimed that he only went to his ex-girlfriend's house to make sure she was not using drugs. He told police he entered through the home's back door, like he did when he lived there. Shannon also claimed that he was the one who was beaten during the alleged fight and that the victim was the one wielding a knife. According to court documents, Shannon told police that he and the other man were "tussling" before he purportedly "blacked out" and left the home.
The woman told police Shannon left her home when he heard sirens.
Shannon was booked into the Allen County Jail, where he is being held on $120,000 bond. He is due to appear in court on Aug. 31.