Credit: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office
Prosecutors played police body camera footage in court showing the chaotic moments after a stabbing in Bristol Township.
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The footage was presented last week as evidence in the preliminary hearing for David Joseph Jenner, 38, of Bristol Township. Jenner has been charged with homicide, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person in the stabbing death of Charlie Thomas Jr., 43, last December 18 in Bristol Township.
From his courthouse along Bath Road, District Judge Kevin Wagner held the charges against Jenner and forwarded them to the Bucks County Justice Center for trial.
The police body camera footage showed officers and medics arriving at the home in the 600 block of Veterans Highway near Snowden Avenue just past 11 p.m. in the rain on December 18, 2021.
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The footage shows an officer pulling his gun as he spots Jenner outside of the home with knives.
“He needs help bad. He’s going to die,” Jenner said to the officer of the victim.
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Jenner gave up the knives and was held in custody as more law enforcement arrived at the scene.
“I stabbed him,” Jenner said in the video. “The evidence is right there.”
Inside the home, video showed several people were aiding Thomas as officers with medical gear attempt to stem the bleeding from the stab wounds. A woman appeared distraught as medics took over.
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Thomas’ mother cried in the home as crews prepared to take her son to a waiting ambulance to be rushed to nearby Lower Bucks Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 11:50 p.m.
Detective Patrick Kitchenman testified he obtained cell phone video shot inside the house shortly before the stabbing.
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The video was played in court after the body camera footage.
The video showed an agitated Jenner in the kitchen. There was talk in the house of knives and one person mentioned Jenner should call the police.
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“They’re trying to kill me,” Jenner said.
“You need to put down the knives, Dave. No one is trying to hunt you,” a person off camera said.
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Thomas’ 64-year-old mother was stabbed in the left arm when she allegedly attempted to break up Jenner and her son during the melee, authorities said.
Thomas died from sharp-force injuries, according to his autopsy.
Officer John Yeiter testified Jenner admitted to the stabbing without even being asked by police.
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Court records reveal Jenner has an extensive criminal history dating back to when he was 18. His offenses range from drugs-related charges to flooding a police holding cell.
Jenner is being held in the Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.
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