A 21-year-old man in West Des Moines, Iowa, faces attempted murder charges after allegedly stabbing his mother following a dispute over using her speaker. The incident occurred on February 28, leaving the victim with non-life-threatening injuries. Police reports detail the attack and the suspect's subsequent actions.
On February 28, Nathan Norrell, 21, was involved in a violent altercation at his home in West Des Moines, Iowa. According to police and court documents, Norrell had been drinking heavily that evening when he asked his mother for permission to use her speaker in the bathroom. She refused, prompting him to wait inside the bathroom armed with a large, fixed-blade knife.
When his mother entered the bathroom, Norrell attacked her, stabbing her in the neck and causing defensive wounds to her hands. She told police she "feared for her life and believed that [her son] was going to kill her," describing the neck wound as "intentional." Two weeks prior, Norrell had been found passed out in a bedroom with a knife nearby.
As the mother tried to tend to her injuries in the kitchen, Norrell followed her. She managed to call 911, at which point he fled the house. Norrell took an Uber to his grandfather's residence before surrendering to authorities later that day.
During questioning, Norrell stated he had blacked out due to alcohol and other medications, claiming no memory of the events. He has a history of legal issues, including ongoing charges from December 2025 for attempted burglary, a felony, along with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and interfering with official acts, primarily traffic-related infractions otherwise.
Norrell was arrested on charges of attempted murder and going armed with intent. He is held in Dallas County Jail on a $750,000 cash bond, with a no-contact order in place. His next court appearance is set for March 10.