A western Iowa man has been sentenced to prison for stabbing his cousin following a day of drinking, according to authorities.
Tariq Thomas, 24, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars after pleading guilty to willful injury causing serious injury, court records show. The sentencing was reported by NBC affiliate KTIV.
The incident occurred on Oct. 11 inside the basement of a home on South Lyons Street in Sioux City, where Thomas had been drinking alcohol with his cousin, 24-year-old Saville Thomas. Authorities say an argument between the two escalated around 6:10 p.m. and turned violent.
According to court documents, Tariq Thomas grabbed a large butcher knife and stabbed Saville Thomas in the left collarbone before driving the blade into his head with such force that the knife handle broke off.
Despite the severe injuries, Saville Thomas managed to leave the home. About 20 minutes later, police were notified and found him stumbling along a road several blocks away. The knife blade was still lodged in his head, and he was bleeding from a wound near his collarbone.
First responders transported him to a local hospital before he was later transferred to another facility, where doctors performed a six-hour surgery to remove the knife blade. He eventually recovered and was released.
Court records state that Mariah Thomas, 34, was also present at the home at the time of the stabbing. Investigators believe she attempted to clean up blood inside the basement and wash blood from the driveway that led to the street.
Tariq Thomas and Mariah Thomas were both arrested on Oct. 20 at their residence. Mariah Thomas was charged with obstruction of justice. She entered a not guilty plea on Oct. 30 and is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 18, according to KTIV.
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