56°F
weather icon Clear

Woman admitted stabbing boyfriend

A 29-year-old woman admitted to police she fatally stabbed her boyfriend Tuesday morning after an argument at their apartment several blocks east of the Strip, according to a Las Vegas police report released Wednesday.

Chamel Smith called police at 7:19 a.m. to say the front door of her apartment had been kicked open and her boyfriend, Johnny Sheffield, 25, had been stabbed. The apartment is at 3785 Hazelwood St., near Swenson Street and Twain Avenue.

Neighbors told police they heard a woman screaming for help. One person who spoke with an investigator told police that Sheffield said Smith “was starting to get physical with him lately and he needed to leave the residence to keep from getting in trouble,” according to the report.

Police questioned Smith at police headquarters. She initially told homicide investigators that she was awakened by a loud noise and found her live-in boyfriend leaning on a chair holding his chest. Smith told police at the time that she saw a wound in his chest, grabbed a towel and placed it on the wound. Sheffield collapsed and Smith then called 911 from Sheffield’s cellphone, the report said.

Sheffield died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.

Smith later changed her story and admitted to police she stabbed her boyfriend. Smith told police she lost her child while at Sunrise on Dec. 22 and that Smith was the father.

“She stated Sheffield was the father of the child and was upset with his attitude (about) the loss of their child and his desire to go drink with friends,” the report said.

The morning of their fatal fight, Smith heard loud knocks at her door and figured it was Sheffield so she ignored it. She then heard rocks striking her window and again ignored them. About 10 minutes later, she heard loud knocking again.

Smith went to the living room and told Sheffield to leave. He then kicked in the front door, she said.

The report said Smith started pushing Sheffield out the front door. When Sheffield resisted, both fell to the floor. While on the ground, Smith hit Sheffield in the face and punched him in the chest. They stood up and began punching each other in the chest, although Smith told investigators she believed he wasn’t trying to hurt her because he never hit her in the face, the report said.

Smith told police she ran to her bedroom to call police and pack up Sheffield’s belongings to throw out the front door.

Sheffield grabbed her and they again fell to the ground, the report said. Smith then ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the counter and held it in her right hand and told him to get out.

Sheffield lunged at Smith and that’s when Smith stabbed him, the report said.

Police examined Smith’s body and found she received a rug burn on her left knee. She did not sustain any other apparent injuries.

Detectives located three knives in the kitchen sink with blade widths consistent with the hole found in Sheffield’s shirt. They also found footwear impressions on the door that were consistent with the shoes Sheffield wore.

Smith was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on no bail on a recommended charge of murder with a deadly weapon. She is scheduled to appear in court this morning.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at
aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST