Man suspected of attacking, stabbing people at two Tacoma gas stations
A man suspected of randomly attacking people at two gas stations in Tacoma is being held on $1 million bail.
The 43-year-old pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree assault.
He allegedly yelled at people for calling him a sex offender even though the victims did not know him or speak to him.
Charging papers give this account:
On Wednesday, a man was at a convenience store on Center Street when the suspect “just rushed up on” the victim, asked why he called him a sex offender, punched him several times and stabbed him in the side.
The victim required immediate surgery but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Officers reviewed surveillance video footage and got the license plate number of the suspect’s SUV.
On Thursday, police were called to a convenience store on South Sprague Street on a similar call.
The responding officer recognized the suspect from security footage the previous night and took him into custody.
The suspect has prior convictions for first-degree burglary, bail jumping and unlawful possession of illegal substances with the intent to deliver.
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 8:48 AM.
