Metro police believe robbery victim turned blade on attacker during fatal stabbing at Nashville gas station

The Tennessean

Nashville police are investigating a fatal stabbing and robbery at a gas station Monday morning, authorities said.

Leonard McKnight Jr., 43, was found dead outside a Murfreesboro Pike gas station with multiple stab wounds.

An MNPD dispatcher said officers responded at 7:10 a.m. to the Mapco Mart at 1090 Murfreesboro Pike for a report of a stabbing.

McKnight is suspected of punching another man in the face and robbing him of his wallet in the side parking lot of the convenience store. Witnesses told police McKnight brandished a sharp instrument when the other man went after him.

Metro Nashville Police believe the man pictured was involved in the fatal stabbing of Leonard McKnight Jr. at a Mapco on Oct. 21. Police believe McKnight robbed the man of his wallet before the man disarmed him and turned the weapon on McKnight.

Authorities say the second man disarmed and turned the sharp instrument on McKnight, stabbing him multiple times and retrieving his own wallet before walking away from the area.

His identity was not immediately apparent to police, according to a release from the department. He was believed to be in his 20s, wearing a black jacket, khaki pants and brown shoes. He wears his black hair long on top and short on the sides, MNPD reported.

Anyone with information on the man or the stabbing is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. Reach Mariah Timms at mtimms@tennessean.com or 615-259-8344 and on Twitter @MariahTimms.