Police: Assault Maybe Prompted by Victim Saying Racial Slurs

Police say a stabbing earlier this week may have been prompted by the victim uttering racial slurs, but there are questions about whether the man could control his speech.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that a 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old Nathan S. Caton were charged with first-degree assault Wednesday after police say they punched and stabbed a man in north Springfield around midnight.

Both suspects told police the altercation was prompted by the victim using the racial slur. Surveillance cameras recorded the assault.

The victim's wife told Springfield police that her husband recently suffered a stroke and sometimes unknowingly speaks out loud to himself.

The victim isn't named in court documents. Police say the wounds on his face and chest aren't life-threatening.

The suspects are being held on $100,000 bond. It wasn't immediately clear if they have attorneys.