St. Paul Man Arrested After Brutal Stabbing of Upstairs Neighbor
ST. PAUL, MN – A St. Paul man is in custody following a violent attack on his upstairs neighbor Saturday, leaving the victim wiht life-threatening injuries.Thomas Welle, the suspect, was arrested Sunday and claims the stabbing was an act of self-defense.
According to court documents, police responded to a stabbing at a St. Paul condo building and found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest,abdomen,and shoulder. He had blood pooling near his heart and lungs and a dropping blood pressure. Investigators also noted defensive wounds on the victim’s arms and the absence of a pulse in the arm corresponding to the shoulder wound. A especially gruesome injury exposed the victim’s eyeball, perhaps resulting in blindness or complete loss of the eye, requiring further surgeries.
The victim told investigators welle had been a disruptive presence as moving into the building, frequently playing loud music and banging on walls and ceilings. The victim’s predecessor in the unit had previously requested wellness checks on Welle, and Welle had once left a threatening note for her, signing it “Your worst nightmare.”
The attack unfolded after the victim was texting a neighbor about Welle’s behavior on Friday.Welle reportedly knocked on the victim’s door, claiming to have a delivery. The neighbor then heard the victim yelling for help and witnessed Welle standing over him, actively stabbing him. Welle fled the scene before police arrived.
Officers responding to the scene found Welle’s apartment door slightly ajar, with loud music playing inside. A bloody knife with the name “Thomas” on the handle was discovered in plain view. Near a pool of blood, police also found an unopened envelope addressed to “Thomas Welle Trust” marked with “Special Delivery.”
The victim, who moved into the building in July 2024, was aware of Welle’s mental health issues and, along with another neighbor, had decided against confronting him due to concerns about his instability. He recounted opening his door to Welle, who immediately attacked him, before collapsing outside. the victim expressed fear that Welle would be released and harm others. Welle’s family echoed these concerns, describing him as “perilous, erratic and unpredictable.”
Police arrested Welle the following day, observing blood on his hands and feet.
Welle has a prior criminal record, including a conviction for second-degree arson after setting his mattress on fire at a group home, stating he “no longer wanted to live there.” He also allegedly spat in the face of an officer responding to the incident.He is also accused of repeatedly punching a doctor in the head and has a “long history of civil commitments,” according to court documents.
The inquiry is ongoing.
related Stories: Attempted Murder, St. Paul, stabbing.
