The Starkville Police Department identified George Johnson of Weir as the man responsible for attacking two people with a knife Tuesday morning at Shipley Donuts.
Johnson, 21, of 3020 Pisgah Road in Weir, is in custody charged with armed robbery and two counts of aggravated assault after he cut the throat of one female employee and stabbed a male employee several times.
Both victims were later reported to be in stable condition. The female victim underwent surgery at Oktibbeha County Hospital.
Johnson”s bond was set at $350,000.
According to cashier Margaret Brown, she and the female victim, a 65-year-old cashier, were working Tuesday morning when the assault took place. Brown had gone to wash her hands around 6:30 a.m. when she heard her coworker yelling for help. She returned to the front of the store to see her coworker lying on the floor between the doughnut rack and the front counter. She moved closer and saw Johnson on top of the cashier attacking her.
Brown called for two male employees who were rolling dough in another room to come to the front of the store. One of the men, a 25-year-old, struck Johnson on his back, at which time Johnson stood up and began attacking the male employee.
The struggle between Johnson and the male employee carried the men throughout the back of the store. Brown began yelling that the police were out front and at that point Johnson broke off his attack and ran to the cash register. He punched several buttons in an attempt to open the register but was unsuccessful and fled the store.
He was apprehended a short time later by Starkville Police walking along Highway 25 outside the city limits. He had been driven south down Highway 25 by his girlfriend, who police say had no knowledge of Johnson”s crime, when she stopped and let him out. The couple had arrived in Starkville Monday night and were staying with friends at The Polos apartments.
Johnson suffered head injuries during his fight with the male employee and was tased by police while being apprehended. No toxicology screening was ordered.
Police said Johnson had no prior arrests for violent crimes.
After Johnson fled the store, the male employee tended to the injured cashier, using towels to apply pressure to the wound on her neck. It was then Brown noticed the male employee had been stabbed in his chest and shoulder and his neck was sliced, as well.
“I don”t think he even realized he was hurt,” Brown said of the male employee.
She said the female employee was able to speak and told her coworkers that the Johnson had come into the store and asked for doughnuts. When she turned to get the doughnuts, she said Johnson came around the counter and attacked her.
Another Shipley employee pulled up to the store just as Johnson was fleeing the scene and was able to give police a description and tell them which direction he was headed.
Joe Kenny, owner of Shipley Donuts, was out on a delivery at the time of the attempted robbery. He returned shortly afterward. After the police concluded their investigation, he said there was “no way the store can open” and closed for the day. All of the day”s doughnuts were given away.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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