CENTRAL — A Central man is facing murder charges after police say they believe he stabbed a man in the neck during a fight in a Central home on last Thursday.
According to warrants, 55-year-old Gerald Wade Hicks of Central was charged with murder following an incident at 307 Watkins Street in Central.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley said that Roger Myles, 59, of Norris, was found dead at the scene. Kelley said the death was the result of a stab wound to the neck.
Officers say they were called to the home at 7:25 p.m. to find Hicks and another man sitting on the front porch of the residence.
“I think you have a fatality in the house,” the man told officers. When officers went into the house, they found Myles lying on the living room floor with a large amount of blood around his upper left shoulder.
After not detecting a pulse, officers returned to the front porch and observed several cuts on Hicks. Officers say when they searched Hicks they found a small silver box cutter.
Officers then placed both men in patrol cars. Later, Hicks was taken to Baptist Easley for treatment.
Hicks was not immediately charged with the crime, because both Myles and Hicks were armed with knives, according to officers. Police said that after statements were taken from witnesses, they believed that the actions were not taken in self-defense. Central Police Chief Kerry Avery said the two men were friends as long as they were not drinking.
The other man at the scene was not charged.
The body of the victim was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital for an autopsy. At press time, toxicology reports were not available.