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Police: Man stabbed girlfriend to death in apartment parking lot

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A man who was arrested for fatally stabbing his girlfriend in Titusville Sunday evening could face the death penalty.

Police said they caught Leon Foster Jr., 42, in the act, and said he continued to stab Mykeba Dynette Clark, 44, regardless of police presence.

Foster made his first appearance Monday since his arrest on a charge of premeditated murder in the brutal beating and stabbing death of Clark.

Investigators said Clark was able to identify Foster as her killer as she was rushed to Holmes Regional Medical Center before she died.

The stabbing happened at the Bay Towers apartment complex on South Washington Avenue.

Investigators said he threatened to kill Clark and her daughter before stabbing Clark to death.

WFTV was at the scene when Foster was taken to jail with his shirt covered in blood and his hands cuffed and bandaged.

Police said Foster went to town to check on Clark, but something angered him, so he went to Walmart to purchase weapons.

"He bought an airsoft gun, a knife and we believe he possibly bought a hammer," said Thomas House of the Titusville Police Department.

Police said he used a ladder to climb onto Clark's balcony, and then broke in through a window.

From there, police said Foster forced Clark to leave and a fight ensued in the parking lot.

"Then he slammed her onto the ground," said House.

Police said Foster then began stabbing Clark in the chest, and when officers arrived, the attack continued.

"The suspect was Tased by a police officer, because he didn't realize at that time that this victim was being stabbed," said House.

The officer then pulled out his gun and Foster gave up.

Clark died after being airlifted to a local hospital, police said.

Investigators said Foster is a former Indian River County Corrections officer. Since that time he's had arrests for battery, assault and a conviction for kidnapping.

It's something the state attorney's office said it will take a close look at in deciding how to proceed in the case, and if to push for the death penalty.

Witnesses both saw and heard parts of the assault at the Bay Towers as described in a just-release 911 call.

"There's glass breaking, the girl is screaming," said the caller to 911. "Just hear, like, fists, like contact with skin."

"When we came out it sounded like she was gurgling, like she was screaming and the screaming stopped. All we saw was him on top of her and screaming, you know, 'I hope you die and all kinds of stuff,'" Witness Lauren Poole said.

Poole saw she saw investigators use a Taser on the suspect.

"I'm glad he's being put away and charged for this. I'm praying for her and her family," Poole said.

Investigators were still collecting evidence Monday night.