Man Charged with Open Murder in Coldwater Meat Plant Stabbing

Valmir Djempsley, 20, has been charged with open murder following the fatal stabbing of his co-worker, Brandon Eduardo Velasquez Chavez, 21, at a Coldwater, Michigan, meat processing plant.

The incident occurred at Clemens Food Group, where witnesses reported an argument between Djempsley and Chavez over a knife. Investigators were told Djempsley chased Chavez with a knife and later admitted to swinging it, ultimately stabbing Chavez in the back.

Coldwater Public Safety Director Joe Scheid noted that employees are assigned numbered knives, and the dispute centered on one of these tools. Medics attempted to save Chavez, but he died at the scene. Scheid described the situation as