Mistrial declared in fatal stabbing of wedding caterer in Chantilly

CHANTILLY, Va. - A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a park worker who was accused of fatally stabbing a caterer at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly back in August.

The jury could not come to a decision in the murder trial for 20-year-old Kempton Bonds, who was charged with fatally stabbing 35-year-old caterer Tyonne Johns.

The jury did not reach a verdict on any of the offenses, according to Bond's defense attorney.

Bonds was working as a seasonal employee for the Fairfax County Park Authority when officials said he was involved in an altercation with Johns, a caterer for an event at the park, on Aug. 6, 2016.

Authorities said the two had a verbal disagreement over chairs after an event had ended.

During the altercation, Bonds stabbed Johns with a knife, according to police. Johns was rushed to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Prosecutors alleged that Bonds was the aggressor, but his attorney maintained that Johns had threatened him and that his actions were in self-defense.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.