Victim stabbed, suspect charged with attempted murder

Monday, August 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM

By Staff report

A Kokomo man was booked into the Howard County Jail on attempted murder charge.

Deputies with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a stabbing in the 600 South block of CR 750 West just after 5 a.m. Saturday. The victim, Derek Wheeler, 35, was suffering from a large laceration wound to his abdomen. Wheeler was transported to Community Howard Hospital and then airlifted to a Fort Wayne Hospital in critical condition.

Detectives investigated and identified a suspect. After noon on Sunday a search warrant was executed in the 300 block of Branded Boulevard. James Hampton, 54, of Kokomo, was taken into custody with the help of the Howard County Sheriff’s SWAT Team.

The attempted murder charge is a Class 1 felony.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Scott Waymire at scott.waymire@howardcountyin.gov or call (765) 456-2020.