Port St. Lucie man accused of stabbing father, admits intent to kill

Rachael PerryPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —

Port St. Lucie police say a 44-year-old man stabbed his father three times in the chest and admitted to authorities that he wanted to kill him.

Body camera footage shows officers responding to a home on NW Blackbird Drive on Sunday, where they arrested the suspect, identified as Cartavion Merritt.

“Our suspect was actually the 911 caller in this situation,” said Port St. Lucie Police Department spokesperson Brittany McNally.

McNally said Merritt admitted to stabbing his father with two different knives, which were later found in the kitchen sink.

“It was revealed that he had some long-standing feeling towards this family member, meaning there was some resentment that was building up from what was described, and in comparison to other family members, he felt as if he wasn’t exactly treated fairly,” McNally said.

Police found the 79-year-old victim inside the home with three stab wounds to the chest. He remains hospitalized and intubated, according to authorities.

Court records show Merritt pleaded guilty to a stabbing in West Palm Beach in 2012, where officials said he stabbed his roommate twice with a kitchen knife.

Merritt is being held on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated battery.