Politician Stabbed to Death at Restaurant; Son Charged

'I'm just numb right now,' says colleague
By Brownie Marie,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 24, 2015 8:28 AM CDT
Politician Stabbed to Death at Restaurant; Son Charged
Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello smiles as he speaks during a news conference at the state fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Sept. 10, 2014.   (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Oklahoma's state labor commissioner was stabbed to death last night in a gruesome scene at an Oklahoma City restaurant, reports KFOR, and Mark Costello's own son is being held in his murder. Sources say Christian Costello, reportedly 26 or 27, asked his parents to meet him at the restaurant around 6:30pm after an argument that morning, and he then attacked his father with a knife. Mark Costello fled outside, with Christian following, witnesses say. “It was very cold ... the way he was walking after the victim," says a man who was driving by. "There was never any rush to the entire thing." The witness says that the elder Costello was stabbed in the head as his wife tried to get him in their car and away from the attack.

Eventually, someone hit Christian Costello with their car, and other witnesses were able to subdue him until police arrived. Costello, 59, was transported to a local hospital with stab wounds to the head and neck, according to NBC News. He died last night. The politician was elected labor commissioner in 2010 and had four other children. Condolences continue to pour in for his family. "I'm just numb right now, as many of us are," Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Randy Brogdon says, according to the AP. "He was a great Christian, a good man, and a wonderful husband and dad. He is going to be sorely missed." Christian Costello has been charged with first-degree murder. (More Oklahoma stories.)

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