BEND, Ore. (AP) — Police in central Oregon say a 19-year-old man performed a song he introduced as “Sorry for the Mess” at a coffee house “open microphone” event, then fatally stabbed himself in the chest.
Lt. Chris Carney says patrons at Bend’s Strictly Organic Coffee rushed to help Kipp Rusty Walker on Thursday night and police and medics arrived quickly. But the young man died at St. Charles Medical Center from multiple stab wounds.
Carney says Walker used a double-edged knife with a 4- to 6-inch-long blade. Police reports indicate the crowd of 10 to 15 was clapping as Walker finished his keyboard performance. When patrons saw him hitting his chest, Carney said they initially thought that was part of his act — until they saw blood.
Coffee shop co-owner Rhonda Ealy tells KTVZ that “people at first thought it was some sort of theater.”
