Staff report

A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted Leroy Gipson, 55, of Port Arthur for first-degree felony murder in the stabbing death of Roderick Wiltz, 37, the 11^th murder victim in Port Arthur this year.

Police told The Port Arthur News the two men were involved in an altercation at the Chop Shop Barbershop, 3740 Gulfway Drive, shortly before noon Aug. 10 when Gipson stabbed Wiltz.

Wiltz was taken first to St. Mary’s Hospital, then to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Gipson fled the scene but was arrested soon after police were called.

He initially was charged with aggravated assault, but the charge was elevated to murder after Wiltz died Aug. 13.

Gipson has previous felony convictions for burglary, sexual assault and failure to comply with sex offender registration.

He remained in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $250,000.