Prosecutors: Man acted in self-defense against machete-swinging attacker

Posted on December 4, 2017
Cullen Hedrick, who died from a stab wound Saturday afternoon, was allegedly swinging a machete at an unidentified man when he was stabbed in the chest. (Photo courtesy Facebook/City of Bloomington – Police)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man who died from a stab wound on Saturday may have been trying to attack someone with a machete when he suffered his fatal wound.

A man apparently trying to defend himself allegedly stabbed Cullen Hedrick, 21, in the chest.

Details were revealed during a court hearing for Hedrick’s girlfriend, Brittney Mikesell, who’s charged with aggravated battery. She’s accused of shooting the unidentified man with pepper spray and spitting at a rescue worker.

In court, McLean County prosecutors said Hedrick and Mikesell confronted the man for an undisclosed reason at the Cardinal Ridge Mobile Home Park in south Bloomington.

Prosecutors say Hedrick, wearing a mask or bandana, allegedly swung the machete at the man. He apparently got up from the ground and stabbed Hedrick.

It was Mikesell who allegedly threw the machete from the vehicle as she drove Hedrick to the hospital.

McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers said no one has been charged with Hedrick’s death, but police are still investigating.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].

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