Stabbing Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder

At about 6:50 a.m. Thursday morning, officers were called to a reported stabbing at 2111 7th Ave. N., St. Petersburg.

According to St. Petersburg Police, while in route to that address officers spotted the suspect, 32-year-old Bryan Slackta, leaving the area on foot, at 9 Avenue North and 25th Street.  

Slackta, police said, had blood covering his right arm and was found to have a folding knife in his right front pocket.

According to police, Slackta admitted to officers that he had just been involved in a fight with his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend and that he had stabbed the man. He claimed it was an accident.

The victim, 26-year-old Sean Stein, was found by police lying outside his apartment suffering from a stab wound to the stomach. He was transported to Bayfront Medical Center as a trauma alert and underwent surgery, but his condition is no longer considered life-threatening.

Officers learned that prior to Slackta arriving at the victim's apartment, he sent several threatening text messages to the victim, police said. Upon his arrival, Slackta and the victim fought, and it was during that time that Slackta produced the knife and stabbed the victim once in the stomach, police said.

After the victim fell to the ground, Slackta continued to punch, kick and head butt the victim before leaving the scene, according to police.

While leaving the area, Slackta sent one final obscene text message to the victim bragging about what he had just done to him, police said.

Slackta is currently charged with one count of attempted first degree-murder.