Suspect arrested after gas station stabbing

CHEROKEE COUNTY – An East Texas man was arrested on Thursday evening after he stabbed a man at an Alto gas station over money and truck keys, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

An Alto arrest affidavit revealed that police officers responded to a Texaco gas station at 539 Lovers Lane around 8 p.m., where a stabbing had occurred. Witnesses identified the suspect as 46-year-old Cory DeWayne Poole of Rusk, who was standing beside a car. While Poole was being handcuffed and put into the patrol car, police found a gray knife in the pocket of his pants. Officers then went inside to check on the stabbing victim, where they saw him holding his stomach in pain.

“I saw a puncture wound on his left side stomach area,” the officer said. “I applied gauze to the wound and applied pressure. Shortly after, EMS arrived to take over medical care.”

The victim explained to police that they were arguing about money when Poole stole his truck keys from the ignition.

“[The victim] confronted Poole about his keys and the two began arguing at the front doors of the Texaco,” the document stated. “[The victim] said that he saw Poole pull a silver…pocket knife from his pocket.”

The victim began to back away from Poole, saying that he was going to have him arrested if he didn’t return his keys. Poole then approached the victim for a second time, but the man tried to push away the arm holding the weapon. That is when Poole thrust the knife into the victim’s stomach, causing him to run inside the store.

Officers reviewed the store’s camera footage, where they saw the confrontation between the two men, and found the victim’s story was consistent with video. Although Poole denied any physical confrontation, he was arrested for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and is being held at the Cherokee County Jail.