Gary, Indiana — A family errand turned into a nightmare on January 3 when 59-year-old Thomas Campbell fatally stabbed his younger brother, 53-year-old Erik Campbell, during an argument over rent money, police said. What began as a simple task set by their mother ended with a life lost and a family shattered.
Erik had gone to Thomas’s home in the 1100 block of Taney Street that Saturday afternoon to collect overdue rent on behalf of their mother, according to court documents and police reports. Surveillance video from a nearby residence captured the first moments of their encounter, showing the two brothers speaking in the front yard.
The footage showed Erik asking Thomas what he was keeping in the pocket of his hoodie. Erik told his brother he wasn’t scared of him, even as Thomas hid his hand. The argument quickly escalated. Court documents indicate Erik tried to disarm Thomas, and the confrontation grew physical.
Suddenly, Thomas drew a knife and stabbed Erik repeatedly. Police say the wounds were to his neck, chest, arm, and stomach. Neighbors rushed to help, and one attempted to separate the brothers as Erik lay seriously injured on the ground.
Moments later, Thomas called 911 and told dispatchers he had been threatened with a gun by Erik. When officers arrived, they found Thomas seated on the porch, covered in blood, and Erik unresponsive on the lawn. No weapon was recovered at the scene.
During his police interview, Thomas said he “blacked out” during the attack and claimed his brother had punched him first. He also told detectives that Erik had bullied him for about 20 years, building up tension between them. Their mother later told investigators that Thomas had a history of refusing to pay rent, adding context to the dispute.
Erik was rushed to nearby Methodist Hospital Northlake but died from his injuries, leaving behind grieving family members and a community in shock. Thomas Campbell was arrested and charged with murder. He’s being held without bond at Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on January 12.
