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Brother of stabbing victim describes altercation

Sunday, October 26, 2008 11:30 PM PDT

By Leslie Slape

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The brother of a man stabbed Friday night in the Abernathy Creek area west of Longview says that his brother was wounded during a one-on-one fight, an account at odds with the one given by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.

Dennis Childers, 23, of Longview, who deputies said was stabbed seven times by a man acting in self-defense, was listed in satisfactory condition Sunday at St. John Medical Center.

Deputies said they believe Samuel Bradley stabbed Childers after coming under attack from a group of people as he tried to leave a party on a logging road.

Childers’ brother, Dalen Childers, said Sunday the crowd gathered to watch a fight between his brother and Bradley.

"My brother went up to fight him and a group of people followed to watch the fight," said Dalen Childers, 21.

Sheriff’s deputies reported that witnesses said that 12 to 20 people surrounded a pickup Bradley was in and broke windows. Bradley grabbed a knife to defend himself, according to deputies.

Dalen Childers said people angrily smashed windows after Dennis Childers had been stabbed.

Dalen Childers said his brother and Bradley had argued about something. "My brother may have made a comment about his hat, there was an exchange of words, and that was the end of it until the stuff happened."

He said that as Bradley was leaving he and his brother exchanged words again. He said his brother opened the passenger door and punched Bradley three times and then Bradley stabbed his brother seven times with a hunting knife.

One stab barely missed his brother’s liver, one punctured his lung, one hit just below his heart and one nearly hit his jugular vein, Dalen Childers said.

Bradley was reported to be 25 years old in a sheriff’s office news release, though other sheriff’s records indicate he is 19.

The sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 577-3092 or Crime Stoppers at 577-1206.

Related article:



Sheriff's deputies call stabbing of Longview man act of self-defense  (Oct. 26)

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mom of four wrote on Oct 26, 2008 11:46 PM:

" How much more info do you need the "kid" who got stabbed his brother even stated to the police that his brother was the one who started it. He was leaving! It was defence! "

mclovin it wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:19 AM:

" The minute Dennis Childers opened the vehicle door and assaulted Samuel Bradley the victim had ever right to defend himself by any means possible. It sounds very much like a case of self defense to me. I hope Mr. Childers recovers from his wounds and then is prosecuted for assault and spends some time in jail. "

98626 wrote on Oct 27, 2008 6:11 AM:

" Next time someone is trying to leave to avoid an altercation it is probably best to "just let it go!" Still sounds like self defense! Sounds like Childers has an anger problem and should have just let the guy leave when he wanted to go rather than continue to assault him. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Oct 27, 2008 6:48 AM:

" Imagine that. Two different sides being told. All this over a hat? Some young men will never learn. Machismo...doesn't get you respect. It gets you injured. "

lucky1 wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:25 AM:

" Nice to see a more beleivable version of the story. Instead of blaming it on the mob maybe he should of tried saying he blacked out. "

AnotherLameOpinion wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:40 AM:

" Technically still self defense. Guy was in his truck to leave, other guy opens door to said truck and attacks him, gets stabbed in the process, self defense! If someone forces themselves into my vehicle with the intent of harming me, you bet I'm going to defend myself with whatever might be near. Words alone do not condone violence. Sure, we all might want to smack someone with a smart mouth once in a while, but unfortunately, the law doesn't allow that. This situation just goes to show why it's not a good idea. Hopefully this young man will think twice before he gets all big and bad and jumps into someone's vehicle again. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:22 AM:

" "Defending oneself by any means possible." Is not allowable by law. In cases of self defense...you're allowed to do so, but it's not permissable to "Escalate" the confrontation. This simply means that if someone attacks you with their hands only?, a knife or gun or any other weapon is not excusable. If this new side of the story rings true, then Samuel Bradley broke the law, and should face charges. Self defense or not. "

Gondolapete wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:53 AM:

" Amazed by Ignorance..I am amazed by YOUR ignorance. Self defense by deadly force is allowed anytime a person feels their life is in danger REGARDLESS if attacker has a weapon or not...I see you have no issues with the attacker, just the person who was attacked.. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:16 AM:

" Gondolapete?, stop sniffing your gun oil. I'm on no ones side here. I think you need to read something other than the second amendment. Escalation, is not allowable by law. Have a nice day. "

Beau Khaki wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:20 AM:

" You must amaze youself because he had every right to defend himself by law. Case in point. Man was walking and minding his own business and is attacked. He ends up on his back and is being pummeled with the guys fists, out comes his concealed pistol and boom, he ends the attack. This happened in Seattle of all places and was found to be SELF DEFENSE, allowed by law. "

local-leo wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:43 AM:

" little lesson in self defense: A person can use the amount of force "reasonable and necessary" to overcome and to stop a threat or immenent danger to self or others. This means that if a guy is assaulting you with his fists (as clearly stated in this article and others) then he can ESCALATE the amount of force to overcome that force. Since he was being attacked and was unable to leave the location, had been hit multiple times, CCSO determined that he was using necessary and reasonable force to overcome the force being used against him. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:46 AM:

" Beau, yes...when one considers all things legalese, there will always be an exception. Just because I chose the words "allowable" and "permissable", doesn't make it the end all and be all. Mitigating circumstance being what it is. There's much to this case that doesn't make sense. If, on the one side....this person was attacked by a mob? The man had a right to escalate the confrontation in his defense. Also, why did this alleged mob stand by, and watch a member get stabbed multipule times? Now if, it was started as a one on one fight as presented in this article? Well, that's escalation and both parties involved should face charges. Oh, any attacks on my blog name is so childish. Let's keep this on an adult level, if at all possible. "

Diesel wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:47 AM:

" Amazed: he does have the right to defend himself by any means necseeary. The law states that you may use that force necessary to defend yourself - up to and including deadly physical force if you are in fear for your life. This is a clear case of self defense. Now if as the brother says these 12 to 20 other people were just gonna watch did they remain silent? Or were they also taunting the victem leading him to believe that they were also after him? I would be willing to bet that there were other threats to this young man. Bottom line is that he was trying to leave and was attacked so that makes the attacker the agressor. "

mom of four wrote on Oct 27, 2008 10:12 AM:

" I am so amazed at "Amazed by ignorance"~ Okay, let me explain this to you when I was in HS these girls at a party didn't like me because of my boyfriend. They boxed me in the bathroom and the one girl who was "mouthy hit me the other girls were egging it on. (This would be considered a mob) I feel in the tub and hit my head. She went down to hit me again guess what she ended up going to the hospital to get some stitches. After me "fighting my way out of the bathroom. Self defense yes. Over something stupid. I personally know the kid who got stabbed and personally my opinion is that he entered the young mans truck and was LEAVING and was with a bunch of other KIDS and decided to intimidate this young man and start it. The crowd (MOB) is there to egg the KID on so it gets him madder for whatever reason. "

funnyone wrote on Oct 27, 2008 10:32 AM:

" Seven stab wounds are seem to me more like rage than self defense. He was in his truck, could he not have driven off? "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Oct 27, 2008 11:01 AM:

" Diesel...as it stands now, I don't see anything about this being "bottom lined" or "clear". It stands at this moment as "he said/he said". I'm not swayed in the least by the assessment made by the local law. I wasn't a witness to this, so I, like everyone else not in attendance to this sorry affair..has nothing to offer but an opinion. We all know what they say about those. Obviously, the majority thus far thinks mine stinks. That's their right. Until it gets heard in court? I'll keep to my expressed opinion. If proven wrong by a court of law...I'll be the first to admit I was. "

Dixie Wreck wrote on Oct 27, 2008 11:59 AM:

" There is such a thing as too much force. The kid started the fight, was losing and decided to win by knife then call it self defense. He didn't have to stab Denny 7 times to get away. And yes, being in a vehicle he could have driven off. He chose not to. "

slider 6 wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:28 PM:

" im sorry people but stabbing someone seven times and the last stroke he went for the neck,is not self defense.the eyewitness state he was trash talking longview kids ....they could have left ...you dont bring a knife to a fist fight. "

slider 6 wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:48 PM:

" If i yell profanitys at someone who cut me off on the street and we come to a stop sign,he walks up to my door and opens it, with no weapon and attemps to swing at me......i can kill him with a knife or gun.......come on people wake up . self defense ..i dont think so "

Beau Khaki wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:58 PM:

" Amazed, your use of the word "escalation" is being misapplied. The definition of "escalation" relating to self defense would be for example Bradley getting back out of his car to face his assaulter when he had a clear oppurtunity to vacate the area safely. But if Childers did assault Bradley while he was leaving all bets are off for the now perforated perp. "

Silly Billy wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:04 PM:

" I can't imagine that kid going to any more parties out Abernathy any time soon. "

Beau Khaki wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:09 PM:

" slider 6, by yelling at the person, you would be "escalting" the situation. So lock your door if your gonna mouth off or act like an adult let it go. But if someone attacks you unprovoked and is landing blows as opposed to "attempts to swing" than by all means stab him. "

DUH wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:09 PM:

" A while back there was a story on here about a guy that shot and killed a guy that was stealing speakers out of his car. Everybody sang praises to the guy for protecting and defending his property. Some even said he should have been given a medal. This guy was defending himself and stabbed a guy that was clearly out to harm him. His personal safety was in danger and you say it was unjust. What is wrong with you people? It's ok to kill over something so small as a set of speakers but, it's not ok to defend yourself in the face of danger? GET REAL! "

Diesel wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:22 PM:

" slider have you ever heard about panic? If someone is assulting you and there are others near that also pose a threat would you have the forethought to stop after once? I don't think so. Even trained officers of the law will shoot until the threat is stopped. "

Diesel wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:28 PM:

" amazed: you are right. The police went by witness statements in their judgement of self defense. Since it was ruled self defense then no criminal charges should be brought forward. A civil court would be needed for the public to learn more details about what actually happened. And self defense can still be the case depending on the mental state of Mr. Bradley. If he was in fear for his life then he had the legal right to use that force necessary up to and including deadly physical force. "

woah wrote on Oct 27, 2008 2:04 PM:

" ok now here me out Dixie... what if the sam kid was in the passenger seat of the truck and couldnt drive off because the driver got pulled down the road and kids where beating him up so he simply COULDNT get away not a matter of choice? or what if the mob parked vehicles in the road blocking the exit ? there are many possibilties. and id bet money the Denny kid started it. why would one person start a fight with up to 20 people? "

Chris360 wrote on Oct 27, 2008 2:51 PM:

" Diesel,,,
I AGREE With you 100%... After reading these types of articals, and sitting in as a juror on the same situation as this one. There is alot of blind poeple out there who has never been in a tense stiuation. They always say the couldas, and shouldas. Denny is my youger cousin. mt prayers are with him and his family. He made a choice to go throught he door. As a driver what do you do? I mean really. Any sane driver is not driving off with someone hanging out of ther vehical. "

Leslie Slape wrote on Oct 27, 2008 4:20 PM:

" The case is still under investigation. I was told today that when sheriff's deputies conclude the investigation they will turn the case over to the prosecutor's office to review for a charging decision. "

two cents wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:16 PM:

" Okay...I have managed to read through the article and ALL the blogs...It always amazes me how many people read an article and then seem to become the expert in what charges, etc. need to be done. WOW! We could sure save a lot of budgets with all the police work and investigations we wouldn't need to be paying for...OH PLEASE!! The work the police do to investigate these types of situations, where really, the story isn't even close to being THICK FOG CLEAR - My heart goes to both the families as things go through, but let's wait till we are on the jury to hear ALL THE DETAILS before we immediately jump (with the mob) to make a decision "

kitten wrote on Oct 28, 2008 7:31 PM:

" At least the "victim" didn't bring a gun to a knife fight or the "aggresser" may have been shot.

They sound like they were surrounding him. What was he supposed to do? Run someone over? That would have been assalt with a "deadly" weapon for sure. "

MamaB wrote on Oct 28, 2008 9:14 PM:

" For those of you who can't seem to read this article correctly, Sam Bradley was the PASSENGER and not the driver and therefore he couldn't make the choice to just "drive off". The window was busted out by Childers and Bradley came out kicking, he had no choice but to defend himself. "

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