Content warning: This article contains graphic violence and includes photos of stab injuries.

After a night out on Welch Avenue, Nate Moklestad and his friend Chloe Lewis expected to wind down at Moklestad’s 23Twenty apartment on 2320 Lincoln Way while playing Mario Kart with friends. However, according to a criminal complaint, their night ended with a stabbing, a death threat and Moklestad’s roommate being taken away in handcuffs.

Corey Barnes, Moklestad’s roommate and a junior in liberal studies, was arrested by the Ames Police Department on Oct. 6 after stabbing Lewis and Moklestad in the head with a butterknife. 

The report also said that Barnes informed officers that he was involved in a physical altercation with Moklestad and Lewis after he was woken up and confronted the guests in the apartment. Barnes then told officers that he took a butter knife from the kitchen and stabbed both individuals with the knife.

According to the criminal complaint, Barnes recounted that “while he was attempting to sleep, the people in his apartment woke him up and refused to leave and things became confrontational and escalated quickly.”

Officers arrested Barnes for assault with intent to inflict serious injury and took him to the Ames Police Department before transporting Barnes to Story County Jail. Lewis was transported to Mary Greeley Medical Center for her injuries. 

The charges against Barnes have since been updated to two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury, a Class D Felony, and one count of harassment in the first degree, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Ames Police Public Information Officer Major Jason Tuttle confirmed the details in the criminal complaint in a phone call with the Daily.

Barnes is currently the president of Eventure Club, a student organization at Iowa State. According to its website, “Eventure is a dynamic organization dedicated to hosting enriching events that feature esteemed guest speakers from wide fields.” 

The Daily reached out to all four of the organization’s advisers, but all declined to comment on the situation.

On social media, Barnes is a popular content creator, particularly on TikTok, where he has more than 121,500 followers and 10 million likes.

The Daily reached out to Barnes through his Iowa State email and social media accounts but did not receive a response. Barnes posted a $5,000 bail Oct. 7 and has an arraignment set for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

According to court records, Barnes’ only other criminal history in Iowa is disorderly conduct in initiating or circulating false reports/catastrophes in Feb. 2022 for pulling a fire alarm in Friley Hall when there was no fire. He pled guilty and was fined $105 after pleading guilty to charges.

Victims recount stabbing

On Oct. 6, when Moklestad, a senior in art and design, and his friends arrived at his apartment, he said the group was having a fun night and Barnes was hanging out with them.

“We were just hanging out in the living room,” Moklestad told the Daily in an interview. “Just like drinking, chatting… little bit of Mario Kart.”

At around 3:30 a.m., Moklestad said Barnes suddenly “started getting, like, really angry.”

“[He] started yelling at all my friends to, like, get the fuck out,” Moklestad said. “I don’t really know why because he seemed fine up until that point… he was chatting with everyone, and he had some people here too.”

Moklestad said after Barnes yelled at his friends, the group left except for Lewis and another friend.

“Everybody basically got out and then Chloe and one other friend stayed behind to help me clean up,” Moklestad said. “[Barnes] was getting really aggressive and came at her and was still yelling at her to get the fuck out.”

Barnes continued to yell at the trio, according to Moklestad, until Lewis made a comment directed at Barnes about his alleged failure to pay rent. Moklestad said this is when Barnes became violent. 

“She made the comment that he hadn’t paid rent in seven months,” Moklestad said. “He got really hostile and said she didn’t know what the fuck she was talking about, and then he came at her and grabbed her to try to like physically pull her out by her hair.”

According to Moklestad, Lewis pushed Barnes off of her after being attacked. Then, Barnes allegedly went into the kitchen and grabbed a butter knife.

Lewis, an Ames resident, said Barnes “pushed me to the floor, started punching me, like attacking me.”

“He grabs this butter knife out of the kitchen… and literally hits my head into the TV,” Lewis said. “Then, he starts stabbing me in the face and stabbing me in the head, saying, ‘I’m gonna kill you.’”

Moklestad also said that Barnes made the death threat to Lewis. This detail is not included in the initial criminal complaint from Ames Police. After witnessing Barnes stab Lewis, Moklestad said he intervened and tried to stop the attack.

“I pulled him off of her and he just said like, ‘Don’t fucking touch me,’” Moklestad said. “[He was] stabbing my face and neck and stomping on my foot, which is why now I’m in this boot… it’s fractured.”

Moklestad said he was able to get the knife away from Barnes and Lewis was taken to the bathroom by a friend to help with her injuries. Then, according to Moklestad, Barnes called the police. 

“Corey called 911 smiling at me, saying that his roommate and this ‘crazy fucking bitch’ wouldn’t leave and attacked him,” Moklestad said.

Moklestad also called 911 after seeing the extent of Lewis’s injuries. 

Ames Police arrived at the apartment and arrested Barnes at 4:29 a.m. Oct. 6. Lewis was treated by paramedics and transported to Mary Greeley Medical Center. Moklestad was later taken to a local health center, where he was informed his foot was fractured.

According to the criminal complaint from Oct. 6, Barnes “admitted to stabbing one on the top of the head,” and “the other subject had multiple stabs to his neck and face.”

A week and a half after the stabbing, Moklestad said he wants “everyone to be safe.”

“That’s why I’m sharing my story,” Moklestad said. “I don’t want anyone else to be affected the way I was.”

Moklestad also said he wants other people who are feeling threatened in other situations to seek out help and find a good support system.

Lewis said she is still trying to process the attack and cope with the aftermath. 

“Honestly, I think it’s gonna start kicking in once we start going to court and everything,” Lewis said.