Mark Costello: Oklahoma Politician Fatally Stabbed, Allegedly By His Son
Mark Costello, Oklahoma’s labor commissioner, was fatally stabbed at an Oklahoma City-area ice cream shop, allegedly by his son, Christian Costello, MSN is reporting.
More pics by Nate Billings from scene of Mark Costello’s stabbing: http://t.co/xl8ovsnbF2 pic.twitter.com/uXXTHecb8K
— Oklahoman Photo Dept (@NewsOKPhoto) August 24, 2015
At about 6:30 p.m. Sunday night, police were called to a Braum’s location in Oklahoma City after a report of a stabbing came in. Police arrived and found Mark Costello, 59, had been stabbed multiple times about the head and neck. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His 26-year-old son, Christian Costello, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. As of this post, it’s not clear what events transpired that led to the stabbing.
According to Heavy, the younger Costello had asked his father to meet him at Braum’s; the two then got into an altercation before stabbing his father in the back. As Mark stumbled out of the restaurant, Christian allegedly followed his father out into the parking lot, continuously stabbing him. Other customers restrained the younger Costello with belts until police arrived.
Crew cleans parking lot where Labor Commissioner Mark Costello was murdered Sun. Suspect is Costello’s son, Christian pic.twitter.com/N54N5uTcZk — Rachel Calderon (@RachelTRAFFIC) August 24, 2015
Christian Costello has had some brushes with the law and likely had some mental health issues, according to U.S. News and World Report. Some time prior to 2012, the younger Costello had been confined to a mental institution for three months; he’s since been arrested for DUI, and in a bizarre 2014 incident, showed up at a junior high school and pulled down his pants. A police report at the time indicated that he was found “chewing on two bird feathers and what appeared to be dandelions and other weeds.”
Mug shot for Christian Costello. He’s accused in the stabbing death of his father, Labor Commissioner Mark Costello. pic.twitter.com/PjX9Rqhj6o
— Max Resnik (@meresnik) August 24, 2015
Mark Costello was first elected to statewide office in Oklahoma in 2010, during an election in which Republicans – including Costello – largely took over in Tulsa. He was a staunchly conservative opponent of big labor and supported reforming federal rules allowing children to work on farms.
Throughout Oklahoma, politicians who knew Mark Costello are offering their condolences. Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Randy Brogdon mourned the loss of his friend.
“I’m just numb right now, as many of us are. He was a great Christian, a good man and a wonderful husband and dad. He is going to be sorely missed.”
In recognition of Mark Costello’s death, flags are to be flown at half-staff throughout Oklahoma through the end of this week, according to ABC News.
[Image courtesy of: Facebook]
