Man charged in Cedar Rapids fatal stabbing testifies his use of racial slur wasn’t ‘important’ to tell police

CEDAR RAPIDS — Shane Teslik testified Wednesday he didn’t tell a police investigator he “hurled” a racial epithet at Devonna Walker before she “charged” him, punched him and assaulted his girlfriend on Jan. 2, 2023, because he didn’t think it was “important.”

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Monica Slaughter, during a lengthy cross examination, asked Teslik, 38, why he didn’t mention using the slur while talking to an investigator, along with other details he had testified about Tuesday.

He testified these things were in the back of his mind when he armed himself with a knife while his girlfriend, Jessie Chavez, and Walker were in a heated argument outside the apartment at 2135 North Towne Ct. NE in Cedar Rapids where he lived with Chavez.

Teslik said the most important thing that night was the safety of his family.

Slaughter said he hadn’t mentioned the six people who were standing across the street and staring at him during the argument. Teslik testified Tuesday he was intimidated and fearful because he thought they were part of a group who invaded a neighbor’s home just a short time earlier that night. Teslik said he feared they would “invade” his apartment, too.

“Were those Black people?” Slaughter asked.

Teslik, hesitating, said yes.

Slaughter asked if six Black individuals were there “when you hurled the racial slur? You thought that would protect your family?” Teslik said he thought it would make everybody go away.

Teslik is charged with voluntary manslaughter, a felony, and disorderly conduct — epithets/threatening gesture, a simple misdemeanor, in the stabbing of Walker, who was Black. He is claiming self-defense or acting in defense of others.

The defense rested Wednesday after Teslik testified. Closing arguments are set for Thursday and the jury should start deliberations in the afternoon. The trial started last week in Linn County District Court.

Slaughter also grilled Teslik over why he didn’t tell the police investigator about two previous incidents that Chavez told him about — that Walker allegedly beat up a neighbor and threatened Chavez’s daughter, who Teslik said he considered his own daughter.

Teslik said his mind was on the current situation — the Walker stabbing.

“You feared for your daughter but you didn’t tell (investigator)?” Slaughter asked.

No, he said.

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Slaughter said, at some point, the investigator asked Teslik if he used the racial slur and Teslik said he didn’t. Teslik said he never used it “in hate.”

Slaughter said during Teslik’s testimony Tuesday, he recalled calling Walker the racial slur only once before she attacked him and he stabbed her — but in a video of the incident, he said it four times.

Teslik denied it. Then said he didn’t remember. He said if that’s what the video shows, it must be true.

Slaughter played the video for the jury and pointed out the four times he called Walker the slur.

Teslik, during his testimony, said he hadn’t watched the video until this trial. He then admitted to previously watching “seconds” of it when the stabbing occurred because his lawyers had requested it.

“You weren’t saying those (slurs) out of hate?” Slaughter asked.

Teslik said he was “upset and tired. I was trying to neutralize the situation.”

“You thought using a racial slur on someone you described as ‘out of control’ would neutralize the situation?” Slaughter said.

He said yes.

Slaughter noted Teslik also testified Tuesday that he took the “action” he did because Walker had charged Chavez and was beating her. He said Walker was “beating, punching and stomping” her.

As Slaughter played the video, Teslik was told to point out those incidents but didn’t.

Slaughter said it looked as if Walker fell over Chavez and started punching Teslik in the face. He agreed.

Slaughter asked whether Walker was walking away from the apartment when he yelled the racial slur at her, and then she charged at the couple.

Teslik said no. But then Slaughter played the video again, showing that portion.

Teslik didn’t admit that Walker initially had walked away.

Slaughter turned her attention to the kitchen knife with an 8-inch blade that Teslik used in the stabbing. She noted he testified he had it with him because he had been prepping dinner that night. But the chicken he planned to cook was still thawing — so why did have the knife? she asked.

Teslik said he had knife with him when he opened the door and heard Chavez and Walker outside arguing, which started the altercation. He said he had the knife in his hand and then set it down on a crate just inside his door.

Slaughter asked if he had knife before Walker charged. He said no. He set it down on the crate and then picked it up when Walker assaulted Chavez.

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“Isn’t it true that you took knife from the kitchen to fulfill your promise” to kill Walker? Slaughter asked.

Teslik said no.

“I was defending my family,” Teslik said.

“After you provoked her,?” Slaughter asked.

“No,” Teslik said. “I was trying to get her to go away.”

On redirect exam, Teslik said he had the knife in his hand when he first tried to push Walker away and chose not to use it until he said he was forced.

Teslik said he didn’t know Walker had died when he was interviewed by police. He knew Walker was hurt, but didn’t know how seriously.

He said he regrets the incident every day.

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