Austin Man Charged in Stabbing of Landlord

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Austin man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing and seriously wounding his landlord.

Police Respond to Stabbing

According to the criminal complaint, Austin police responded to a residence in the 800 block of 3rd Street Northwest on the afternoon of April 1 to investigate a report of a stabbing. The victim told a dispatcher that his tenant had stabbed him and that he was walking to the hospital.

Victim Underwent Emergency Surgery

The court document indicates a responding officer located the victim and observed that he was suffering from three stab wounds: one on his upper left arm near the shoulder, another on the inside of his left bicep, and a third wound on his upper to middle back near his left lung that required emergency surgery.

Attacked While Fixing Leaky Pipe

The victim told investigators that he was in his rental building fixing a leaky pipe in the hallway when his tenant, 50-year-old Aubrey Lee Ushera, came out of his apartment and said, “I’m going to kill you,” before stabbing him. The victim stated he escaped by running down the stairs. He also told investigators that he had nothing in his hand when he was attacked.

Physical Evidence Didn't Match Suspect's Claims

The criminal complaint says that when investigators spoke with Ushera, he claimed his landlord had threatened him with a screwdriver outside the doorway to his apartment. He then claimed he went inside, grabbed a knife, and stabbed the victim during a physical altercation. The court document says the physical evidence at the crime scene did not match Ushera's version of events.

Intent to Kill

When asked about the discrepancies, the criminal complaint says Ushera admitted the victim did not run up to him and that he had walked toward the victim, “and when he got close to him is when the stabbing occurred.” The court document also says Ushera told the detective it was his intention to kill the other man.

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Evidence listed in the criminal complaint also includes a series of text messages in which Ushera threatened to kill his landlord over a dispute involving locks to the apartment.

Ushera is charged with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. His conditional bail is set at $500,000.