Cuba Man Charged With Stabbing Brother

A Cuba man was arrested March 27 after he allegedly stabbed his brother during an altercation.

Ricky L. Church Jr. faces charges for second-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

Church is being held without bond at the Crawford County Jail.

According to the probable cause statement, deputies responded to a residence in Cuba around 9:44 p.m. after receiving a report that a man had been stabbed and was being chased by his attacker.

Deputies arrived to find the victim in the driveway holding a wound on his left arm. 

He identified his brother, Church, as the assailant. 

Shortly after, Church approached officers and was taken into custody without further incident. He initially claimed self-defense but later admitted to pulling a knife during the altercation.

The victim reported that the dispute began as an argument about respect before escalating into physical violence. He stated that Church shoved him, prompting him to strike back. Church then allegedly pushed him onto a bed and produced a knife, stabbing him in the upper left arm and cutting his chest near a surgically implanted pacemaker. The victim managed to escape and hide behind a car while calling for help.

A witness, who is in a relationship with Church, confirmed seeing the altercation and observed Church holding a pocket knife with the blade open. 

She was able to take the knife from him and place it on a nearby plastic tote before officers arrived. Authorities recovered the three-inch blade, which had an unknown substance on its tip.

Despite his injuries, the victim declined hospital treatment.

Church, who is on parole for second-degree assault and second-degree robbery, allegedly said during an interview that he “has registration and is a legal or lethal weapon.” He also claimed to have murdered someone in prison.