Texas battalion chief stabbed in neck by Walmart worker
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A Wal-Mart worker attacked two shoppers with a knife Wednesday, according to police.
The stabbing happened late Wednesday afternoon in the 700 block of West Princeton — WFAA indentified one of the victims as an off-duty fire battalion chief.
Sources said the victims appeared to have been selected at random, witnesses told the KTVT they saw the armed suspect walk up from behind and slit the firefighter’s neck.
Princeton Police Chief James Waters says Nicolas Martinez, 20, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault withe a deadly weapon for an attack just after 4 p.m. Wednesday.
It had already been a full day for Waters. He and two other officers spent most of the day in Dallas patrolling, which allowed Dallas police officers to attend the funeral for officers Lorne Ahrens and MichaelSmith.
When Waters arrived on scene in Princeton, he learned one of the victims was George Wesley Cook, a battalion chief with the McKinney Fire Department.
Cook was slashed across the throat. According to witnesses, he rendered aid to the other stabbing victim while bleeding from the neck.
The firefighter is said to be in stable condition.
Investigators said they believe Martinez targeted the firefighter.
Martinez, who is in custody, was also hurt.
Erica Jones, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for Walmart released this statement:
“Today’s events are deeply troubling. Our thoughts are with everyone who was a part of this terrible situation. We are thankful to the first responders for their quick action, and we are continuing to work closely with the police. The associate who did this was arrested and his employment at our store was immediately terminated.”
