OKLAHOMA CITY — A young man accused of fatally stabbing another man last month claims it was self-defense, and the district attorney confirms charges were never filed.
“I rejoiced. I thought to myself God is for real. He does send angels,” said Bradley Burke.
In this case, Burke said he feels his angels were the police and the district attorney.
“Everyone was there looking at me in disgust saying look at this killer, murderer. I’m like killer? Murderer?” Burke told News 4.
That’s what everyone thought after Burke stabbed 19-year-old Tristen Bingham.
Burke was arrested on one count of first-degree murder, but the charges were never filed.
It all started when Burke refused to let a previous argument with his neighbors escalate.
“They were saying let’s fight, let’s fight. I said, no, I don’t want to do that, you guys are wasting my time,” Burke said.
Burke said Bingham wouldn’t let it go.
“He punched me in the mouth so I said alright, alright. I closed my door. I turned my back and, a couple seconds later, he kicks open my door with full force. Then he has a desktop keyboard, starts hitting me over the head with it,” Burke said.
Burke said he struggled for his life.
“I thought to myself enough was enough. So my knife was on my side, I lunged it and got him,” Burke said.
He recorded audio of the incident on his cell phone in his pocket. He said that’s what helped proved his innocence.
“What was going through my head was did I do the right thing? On a legal standpoint, yes. But, could I have done something different? Yes,” Burke said.
Since he can’t go back, Burke said all he can do is pray for Bingham’s family and thank God his name was cleared.
Burke was fired from his job after the incident. He hopes to soon enlist in the U.S. military.