Solange Knowles rushed back to New Orleans from the Coachella festival when her friend and business partner Armina Mussa was stabbed 10 times in front of her home, NOLA.com reports. Mussa is in critical condition after being stabbed Wednesday night, police reports say.
An arrest has been made. Mussa, 24, is Knowles’ business partner in the Saint Heron brand and co-owns a boutique, Exodus Goods in the city’s French Quarter.
According to records filed at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Arronesia Christophe was arrested at the location of the stabbing about 7:03 p.m. Wednesday by New Orleans Police Officer Dominique Dejernette.
Records show Christophe told Dejernette that she had been attacked by Mussa and was acting in self-defense when she stabbed the woman.
Christophe claimed that she had arrived at a high school friend’s home about 6:45 p.m. when Mussa, who Christophe said was her friend’s ex-girlfriend, came out of the house and began yelling at her to leave, the documents show. Records show Mussa lives at the Derbigny Street home.
Christophe reportedly said, “We’re just friends, why do I have to leave?” Records show Christophe said she then grabbed a small folding knife from the center console of her car and told Mussa to “get back,” and to “please back away,” but claimed Mussa continued to yell at her.
Mussa then began punching Christophe, the arrested woman told police. Christophe said she was being pulled by her hair to the ground when she began swinging her knife at Mussa, who she claims continued to punch her.
“(Christophe) stated she did not think she had stabbed the victim due to the harder thrown punches that she received from the victim,” Dejernette wrote in her report.
Christophe said she finally stopped swinging the knife when Mussa stepped back and said, “You stabbed me,” records show. After police were called, Christophe stayed on the scene and remained on the phone with a 911 dispatcher until the officers arrived, the record says.
Knowles was in court Thursday during Cristophe’s court hearing. Cristophe was initially charged with aggravtaed battery but those charges were upgraded to attempted second degree murder after the extent of Mussa’s injuries were known.
Mussa remains in critical condition.
(Photo of Armina Mussa from ‘Brooklyn’ magazine.)
