Suspect in Deadly Gay Bar Stabbing Arrested – Advocate.com
Three days after one of his alleged victims died, a California suspect wanted in connection with a stabbing at a Long Beach gay bar has been arrested.
Local police arrested Michael Smalls, 56, on Tuesday, according to a news release.
Smalls has been accused of stabbing Christopher Finley, 28, to death at the Mineshaft bar on Friday night.
Finley was killed after he and another man had an argument with Smalls outside of the bar, according to police. The altercation got physical, police said, before Smalls pulled out a knife and stabbed the two in the upper body.
Finley died about eight hours after medical personnel took him to the hospital despite initial police reports that his injuries were not life-threatening.
A verified GoFundMe revealed that the other victim was Finley’s partner, identified as Jacob Touchstone.
Authorities said the couple was involved in an altercation with a taser-wielding man outside the bar before the altercation with Smalls. That man was detained by police on an unrelated charge.
The man with the taser had reportedly been threatening patrons at the bar, according to local TV station KTLA. Finley and Touchstone intervened. However, Smalls stopped at the bar on his bicycle, and, after arguing with them, allegedly pulled the knife.
After the stabbings, Smalls fled on a bicycle.
Smalls is being held on $2 million bail, facing murder and attempted murder charges. Police believe the stabbings were not a hate-motivated attack.
The GoFundMe page established to help Touchstone with medical bills as well as expenses related to Finley’s funeral costs has collected nearly $35,000.
According to the GoFundMe page, the couple had gone out for a date night and had ended up at the Mineshaft for a nightcap. The couple had been together since 2016.
Those with information about the case can anonymously report it at LACrimestoppers.org or by calling 562-570-7244.