Harbin charged with knife attack

A Rock Island man is facing up to six years in prison for stabbing his friend in the back.

The suspect, Wayne Harbin, 48, was bound over to the grand jury Tuesday by Judge Larry Ross on the charge of aggravated assault, a felony which carries three to six years in the state penitentiary. He is free on bond waiting for his case to go before the grand jury next month.

His alleged victim, Kelsey Burks, 26, has been released from the hospital since the incident this October which required extensive treatment at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.

Investigators say Burks was stabbed seven to nine times in the back with a folding knife, allegedly wielded by Harbin during a confrontation between the two. The incident happened at a home on Cadillac Lane with witnesses saying the men were arguing both inside and outside the residence.

The subject of the confrontation has not been revealed. Harbin reportedly claimed Burks had made calls to him earlier in the day, making threats against him.

Lawmen say the stabbing happened while the two were outside still arguing with witnesses stating Burks came back into the house bleeding.

Investigator Marty Cantrell said the knife used in the stabbing was found lying the living room. Cantrell also noted Harbin called the residence while he was there investigating the stabbing, presumably to check on Burks. Cantrell said Harbin and Burks were reportedly friends prior to the stabbing.