Suspect Arrested In The Stabbing Death of Gay Man At a California Gay Bar
Image: Jacob Touchstone and Christopher Finley. Image: Instagram
A suspect wanted in the stabbing death at a California gay bar, has been arrested.
Michael Smalls, 56, was arrested on Tuesday, three days after allegedly stabbing a gay couple, killing one.
On September 9, Christopher Finley, 28, and Jacob Touchstone went out for a date night and nightcap at Mineshaft bar in Long Beach.
An altercation happened between the couple and an unnamed man with a taser and, soon after, an altercation with Smalls, resulting in the couple being stabbed.
Finely would pass away eight hours later at the hospital.
According to Long Beach Police, “During the first altercation, the victim(s) were involved in a fight with a man who was armed with a ‘taser’ in front of a business. Moments later, a second altercation occurred in which Smalls got into a physical fight with the two victims, which escalated to Smalls stabbing both victims. Smalls then took off on a bicycle. The man with the ‘taser’ was detained at the scene and arrested on an unrelated charge.”
Smalls is being charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder.
Police: No Evidence This is a Hate or Bias-Motivated Incident
In a statement, police said there is “no evidence this is a hate or bias-motivated incident.”
The couple’s GoFund Me page reveals that the couple has been together since 2016.
“From then on, there was never a Jake without a Chris,” the page states. “They had ups and they had downs and they even tried the whole time apart thing, without ever really leaving each others’ lives. It has always been and will always be Chris and Jake forever.
“They are each others’ end game and anyone who knew them for more than 2 minutes would know that. The love that these two had for each other is the kind most people never find.”
In an Instagram post, Touchstone wrote, “Today I said goodbye to the love of my life. I don’t even know how to put into words the way we completed each other and I will never be whole again. You are my world. You were the light in so many peoples lives and our worlds will never be the same. I love you and dream of the day I see you again.”
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The GoFund Me page has raised over $37,000 USD ($54,000 AUD) and will be used for medical bills and funeral costs.
