No charges for fatal stabbing in drug deal gone bad

A Missoula man who was suspected of stabbing another man to death in the restroom of a local restaurant will not face homicide charges because police determined the stabbing was done in self-defense as the victim tried to rob the suspect of drugs.

Joshua Michael Paniagua was arrested Tuesday on a warrant charging him with criminal distribution of dangerous drugs following the New Year's Day death of 18-year-old Benjamin Mousso of Hamilton.

An investigation found Mousso and two others conspired to steal marijuana from Paniagua by offering to trade it for methamphetamine.

However, they did not have any meth. Paniagua told investigators Mousso punched him seven or eight times before he pulled out his knife to protect himself.