Photo: Gulfcoastnow
On Saturday evening , Punta Gorda police officers responded to a Publix grocery store at 2310 Tamiami Trail after a 70-year-old man was stabbed in a random attack.
Officers say that a suspect, L, 47, is in custody.
An arrest report later revealed that officers responded to the Publix for reports of a stabbing. The victim was reportedly shopping in an aisle and told officers that he suddenly felt as if someone had punched him on the left side of his face.
The victim said that he saw L staring at him with a box cutter blade in his hand. The victim said that he removed his hands from his face and saw blood, and that L had stabbed him.
Punta Gorda police officers arrived shortly after and found L standing near the store entrance with his hands on his head. Officers detained him at the scene.
According to an arrest report, L told the officer that he had an undiagnosed mental illness and had a dislike for the “1960’s era.” When asked why he had the box cutter, L reportedly admitted he entered the store intending to kill someone. He said he chose the victim because he “looked like he was from the 1960’s” and that he felt like murdering him.
“Who would think that when you’re just doing some regular grocery shopping, going about your business, that a stranger would come up and just attack like that? It’s very scary” said B, who works in a business in front of the Publix. She heard about what happened and says she’s shocked.
An arrest report says L described the attack, saying, “I just pulled it out of my pocket and stuck it in his neck.” He confirmed he intended to kill the victim and admitted to throwing the weapon down the aisle after the stabbing to avoid alarming the police.
“It’s very scary that someone can run around like that with a knife and just randomly pick a stranger that they don’t even know and inflict that kind of harm on him,” said B.
The victim was treated at a local hospital for a laceration that extended from his left cheek near his mouth, down his jawline, and onto his neck, measuring 4 to 6 inches. He received multiple stitches.
L was arrested and faces a charge of aggravated battery of a person 65 years or older.
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Source: Gulfcoastnow
