Alabama man pleads guilty to stabbing at north Springfield Houlihan’s

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — An Alabama man charged after allegedly stabbing a man at a north Springfield restaurant has pleaded guilty.

Matthew R. Salter, 44, pleaded guilty under a plea agreement to one count of first-degree assault on Aug. 9.

According to a probable cause statement, the Springfield Police Department (SPD) was called to Houlihan’s on north Glenstone in April 2023 for reports of an assault involving a knife.

The victim told officers he had been sitting at the bar when he had tried to make small talk with Salter, who told the victim to leave him alone, documents say. When the victim responded, Salter became upset and pulled out a knife. He lunged toward the victim and stabbed him once in the side.

The bartender told police Salter had asked her and the victim if they had any “blow”, and both responded they didn’t. According to the bartender, the victim proceeded to ask Salter about his tattoos. Salter responded by telling the victim to leave him alone, and documents state that Salter told the bartender to remove the victim from the bar, saying that if she didn’t, he was going to stab him.

Later, when officers interviewed Salter, court documents indicate he claimed he didn’t remember the incident, but had only had a couple of beers while at the bar.

Salter is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 3, 2024.

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