A 25-year-old Illinois man suffered severe head injuries after being attacked with a rubber mallet inside a Walmart in Caernarvon Township early Friday morning, according to police.
The assault occurred around 5:46 a.m. on February 14 at the Walmart located at 100 Crossings Blvd. Authorities said the victim, a worker contracted to perform overnight store modifications, was struck multiple times in the head by a coworker who believed he was being disrespected.
Following the attack, the victim was transported by private vehicle to Chester County Hospital in West Chester before being transferred to Paoli Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. The Caernarvon Township Police Department (CTPD) was alerted to the incident by hospital staff.
Berks County Detectives assisted CTPD in the investigation, which led officers to a hotel in Exton, Chester County, where the suspect had been staying. However, the suspect and his girlfriend had already checked out before police arrived.
Investigators learned that the suspect was likely attempting to flee to Mississippi and was heading to Philadelphia International Airport. With assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Philadelphia Police Department, authorities located the suspect at the airport as he waited to board a Frontier Airlines flight to Atlanta.
The suspect was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Attempt-Homicide, Aggravated Assault, and Possessing Instruments of Crime. Members of CTPD and Berks County Detectives transported him back to Berks County, where he is currently being held at Berks County Prison.
Authorities emphasized that, as in all criminal cases, the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.