Police: Accused Killer Said He'd Stab Someone

In the days before he'd be , Lawrence Gaines boasted to an acquaitance that he'd "just got out of jail and would stab a motherf---er."

That's according to court papers filed Thursday against Gaines, who is charged with on the 600 block of Ferry Street.

Gaines, 44, who was listed as "homeless" in court records, had been recently released from , where he'd been serving time on theft charges. He is back in prison again, being held without bail on a charge of criminal homicide.

According to police, Thompson, 43, of the 1400 block of Washington St., had gone to an apartment at 613 Ferry Street Tuesday morning looking for a man named Miguel.

Police say Gaines, who is also known as "L," answered the door, and he and Thompson got into an argument -- which have said was drug related -- that turned into a physical confrontation.

Court records say a witness hearded someone yelling "L!" at the time of the fight. Thompson was stabbed several times, and was unconcious by the time police arrived. He was pronounced dead just before 8 a.m. at St. Luke's Hospital.

On Thursday, a memorial rested at the corner of Ferry and Union streets, close to the spot where Thompson was found. It featured two posters with messages to "Poncho" -- Thompson's nickname -- as well as a burning candle and flowers that had begun to wilt in the July heat.