A Bridgeport man was slashed and stabbed repeatedly by his own roommate when he tried to stop him from assaulting a woman Saturday night.
Casey S. Mason
“The suspect (Mason) was hitting his fianc e in the face with a closed fist several times,” said Steve Stanford, Bridgeport’s assistant chief of police. “(Unger) tried to intercede and confronted the suspect, who then started fighting him. It started with fists at first, but the victim told our investigators that before he knew it he was bleeding from his chest area.
“He tried to do what was right, and he ended up getting stabbed for it.”
Unger sustained eight puncture wounds and one slash during the assault. He also suffered eye injuries when at one point in the scuffle Mason allegedly used his thumbs in an attempt to gouge them out.
Unger was flown from the scene to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth where he was listed in critical condition after his arrival.
The fight started after Mason got into an argument with his 33-year-old fianc e that soon became physical. The woman tried to stop Mason from swallowing several pills. A 4-year-old and an infant were at the home when the violence broke out.
When police arrived, Mason barricaded himself in a back bedroom. Officers forced entry and had to deploy a Tazer to get the struggling suspect under control.
After his arrest, Mason was taken to North Texas Community Hospital in Bridgeport. As soon as he was released, officers were waiting for him Sunday morning with a warrant and handcuffs.
Police recovered the weapon, a paring knife with a blade approximately 3 1/2-inches long.
Officers also found testosterone, a steroid and a controlled substance, at the scene.
“It might have been the cause of his aggressive behavior,” Stanford said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Mason remained in Wise County Jail on a $10,000 bond. He’s been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and assault to cause injury family violence.
More charges might be pending.
Unger suffered knife wounds in the chest, abdomen and back. He’s since been released from JPS, and Stanford said he’s hopeful he’ll make a full recovery.
The female victim suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital but was soon released.
Mason, a former resident of Decatur, has an arrest record for public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance but no violent history.
