Pa. state police mulling possible charges in stabbing death

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Authorities know who stabbed Thomas Nail, 19, in the neck, killing him, but can’t say when an arrest is coming, or if one is coming at all.

An autopsy has determined that hemorrhagic shock killed Nail when he was stabbed in the neck early Tuesday morning in a wooded area in Shenango Township, state police said.

Nail, who lived on Moravia Street, bled to death from a damaged artery, police added.

He was killed around 4 a.m. during a fight between teenagers or young adults in the area near Pennsylvania Avenue and Bryson Hill Road, police have said.

He was found on the ground near his pickup truck after police responded to a 911 call.

An investigation is still under way, said police and Lawrence County District Attorney John Bongivengo.

State police say the person who stabbed Nail, with a standard pocket knife, is cooperating with their investigation. If no charges are filed, he will not be named, police said.

They reported that they also are looking into a possible self-defense motive for the killing.

“There is justification to the use of force at times,” said Trooper Matt Roth.