West Valley man arrested, accused of stabbing roommate

WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police have arrested a man accused of stabbing his roommate at their apartment a week ago, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries.

Just before 3 a.m. on Sept. 4, police were called to an apartment at 3918 S. 1845 West.

"When officers arrived on scene, the victim had been found in the living room of the apartment and appeared to have been stabbed. The victim was transported to (a local) hospital where he was immediately taken to surgery to save his life," according to a police booking affidavit.

Detectives learned the victim had suffered injuries to his stomach, a lung and liver, and was also cut on his left arm. Witnesses say the victim and his attacker — whom he has lived with for four years — were fighting prior to the stabbing, the affidavit states. Some, however, believed the stabbing was in self-defense.

On Monday, Nshimiye Claude, 23, went to the West Valley City Police Department to be interviewed. He said the victim and another man began to assault him.

"(He) admitted to getting away from the victim and his friend and grabbed a knife. (Claude) stated that he got the knife to intimidate the victim's friend," according to the affidavit.

He told police that the victim's friend then also grabbed a knife. "(He) stated in the chaos the victim was injured but he did not know how he was injured. (Claude) stated that his intent was not to stab anyone," the arrest report states.

At the end of the interview, however, Claude was arrested for investigation of aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, even though the arresting officer acknowledged that Claude had visible injuries of his own.

"Due to the severe injuries the victim received, I do not believe that (Claude) accidentally injured the victim," the affidavit states. "I believe that (Claude) was the predominant aggressor in this incident."

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