VAN BUREN, AR – Authorities in Van Buren have charged a 19-year-old man with second-degree murder and theft following the fatal stabbing of a 34-year-old in early April. The suspect, Anthony Lee Tabor, is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, months after the violent altercation that left Michael James O’Malley dead on the roadside.
Police were summoned on April 6 after a passerby found O’Malley’s body on the side of a local road. Upon arrival, officers discovered that O’Malley had sustained a single stab wound to the chest and was already unresponsive. The state crime lab later confirmed homicide as the manner of death.
Investigators say witnesses reported seeing Tabor and O’Malley embroiled in a heated fight in the early hours of that day. Witness accounts described a physical altercation, with Tabor allegedly striking O’Malley, causing him to emit a scream and collapse. According to statements gathered by detectives, Tabor shouted as he rushed back to a vehicle, which police later identified as stolen, and drove away from the scene.
One bystander told police over a 911 call that “he just stabbed that dude” as the fight erupted. Others recalled seeing the two men grappling on the ground, with one instance involving O’Malley’s head being slammed into the curb during the chaos. Attempts to separate the pair were unsuccessful, and the initial 911 call at 2:47 a.m. yielded no immediate police contact at the location, according to the responding witness.
The vehicle Tabor used to flee, reported stolen from Little Rock, was eventually recovered at an apartment complex where Tabor resided. Authorities conducting a search in the vicinity discovered a knife near his residence, which is believed to be connected to the stabbing.
While piecing together the timeline, police learned that Tabor was already in custody on a separate theft charge when evidence connected him to O’Malley’s death. He has remained at the Crawford County Detention Center since his arrest. Authorities set his bond at $255,000.
Detectives have not detailed a motive for the altercation but have confirmed that Tabor and O’Malley were acquainted prior to the incident. The presence of the stolen vehicle, combined with forensic evidence from the scene, helped lead to Tabor’s arrest on murder charges.
O’Malley’s death marks a rare violent crime for the Van Buren community, prompting concerns among residents and calls for increased vigilance. Law enforcement officials say they are continuing to gather information in the case ahead of upcoming court proceedings.
No attorneys for Tabor have made public statements regarding the case. The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare formal charges. Tabor will face the court Tuesday as the community awaits further developments.