Suspect charged in fatal Racine stabbing

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RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) – A man is charged in connection to a stabbing in Racine that left a 35-year-old man dead and a 36-year-old woman in critical condition.

According to a criminal complaint, Lapiate Boone faces several charges including first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and stalking. On Friday, he made his first court appearance and his bond was set at $1 million. 

Racine Police identified the victim as 35-year-old Gene Smith.

Court documents state the 36-year-old woman filed a restraining order against Boone in September 2018, who is the father of her two children.

Police were called in November to a home near Sheffield and Bay Drives because Boone had shown up and was “trying to kill” the woman.

On May 29, police were called to a hospital to speak with the woman about a reported stabbing.

She told authorities she went to the home near Sheffield and Bay where Boone currently lives. At the time, she was living in a different location with her boyfriend, Smith.

She tells the police everything was peaceful between her and Boone as she made dinner for the children. She told Boone she was going to leave to check on her sister and he became angry.

A fight began and Boone stabbed the woman in the leg.

Boone tried to persuade the woman not to go to the hospital, but she eventually left for the hospital.

Later, the woman went with Smith back to the home near Bay and Sheffield to get her children’s clothes and school bags. When they got to home, Boone was not there, but he arrived shortly after.

Court documents state he was still angry when he got back and began hitting the woman with a pole. Smith tried to get between the two of them. The fight moved into the kitchen where Boone grabbed a knife again and stabbed both the woman and Smith.

Boone left the home and was later arrested. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 5th. 

The children were in the home and attempted to help Smith, but he died from his injuries. 

The woman was taken to the hospital where she remains in critical condition.

Smith's close friend, Jay Jenkins describes him as well respected, a great father, a brother & friend to anyone he encountered. "Everyone is devastated…he was a really great guy we all love and miss dearly," said Jenkins. 

Smith worked at Froedtert South, the hospital released this statement: 

"The Froedtert South community is heartbroken by this tragic loss and we extend our thoughts and prayers to Gene’s family, friends and team members during this difficult time. Gene was a very respected, trusted, loyal, dedicated and hardworking team member since 2008. We ask for the community to respect the privacy of his family, friends and team members as they grieve this tragedy."



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