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Labor Day cookout turns violent
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer
A Labor Day cookout turned bloody Monday when a woman was stabbed in the neck with a butcher knife during an argument.
According to a report at the Gaffney Police Department, the incident occurred at about 6:40 p.m. Monday inside an apartment at 100 White Oak Drive.
The 48-year-old victim was taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment. She remained there as of Tuesday, a hospital spokeswoman confirmed, listed in fair condition.
No charges were reported as of Tuesday.
Police wrote in a report they were dispatched to 100 White Oak Drive regarding a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, an officer made contact with Marcia Whitmire, 50, who allegedly kept repeating, “I’m sorry for what I did.”
The officer wrote that he then found Donna Phillips, 48, also of White Oak Drive, seated in a chair with a stab wound to the left side of her neck.
The officer wrote that Phillips was covered in blood and that he immediately called for paramedics.
Whitmire subsequently gave a voluntary statement, the police report states, during which she explained how an argument broke out at the cookout. Whitmire told police she attempted to retreat to her own apartment but claimed that Phillips followed her. Whitmire further claimed to police that Phillips berated her, threw a vase and broke it, and then struck her with a chair and barbecue tongs, according to the report.
Whitmire allegedly told police she stabbed Phillips with a butcher knife when Phillips kept advancing toward her.
Sgt. Jamie Kennington wrote in the report that he observed a broken vase and blood stains in Whitmire’s apartment. A butcher knife was taken into evidence.
