HOLT, Fla., July 6, 2023—A Holt man is in custody on charges he stabbed another individual in a dispute over a woman Tuesday. 

Robert Dean Parker, 51, of Lyons Place, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. 

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call around 11 p.m. about a man who had been stabbed in the neck, according to an OCSO news release.

A number of witnesses saw the altercation. 

One witness told deputies she saw Parker running down a driveway toward the victim with what appeared to be a knife, and then saw the victim fall to his knees after the encounter.

According to the release, she said Parker also took off his shirt and began strangling the victim, stating, “I am going to kill you.”

Upon arrest, after being read his rights, Parker claimed “stand your ground law” in his defense; however, according to the release, he “left the safety of his porch and home to confront the victim…[and] …walked approximately 40 yards, toward the victim.” The confrontation occurred on the easement of the property, according to the report.

Parker confessed to using the knife to stab the victim. According to the arrest report, deputies recovered a 3.5-inch folding knife with blood on the blade from Parker’s home.

The victim had a 3-inch wound under his chin and two other wounds on his abdomen as well as a 6-inch wound in the center of his forehead extending down to the center of his nose, according to the report.

The victim was taken to North Okaloosa Medical Center for treatment. He is expected to survive.

OCSO news release