Man Attacked With Machete In Downtown Over Girlfriend
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Police are investigating a horrible attack in downtown Pittsburgh.
Police say 26-year-old Jason Butler, of Pittsburgh, pulled out a machete and stabbed another man on the street -- but police say it wasn't a random attack.
According to officials at the scene, the incident happened near the Wood Street T Station.
Sources tell KDKA's Marty Griffin that Butler was upset with another man over a woman they were both dating.
"So this wasn't random, he just targeted the people he was upset with," said Port Authority Spokesman Jim Ritchie. "It doesn't look like he attacked the female either, but the man sustained a severe injury to his arm, his wrist area."
Butler walked into the Army Navy store on Liberty Avenue downtown, bought an 18-inch machete and walked a block to the T station.
"We had a customer come in about a little after noon and he went to purchase a machete, and we carry machetes from Ontario Knife Company -- a government contractor, and he bought a machete from us, he was very nice he was a gentleman," said Bob Morris who sold the knife to Butler.
The scene was chaotic. Port Authority police were there within minutes of the attack and witnesses say their proximity to the incident may have saved the victim's life.
Sources say the victim raised his hands in a defensive position and the knife cut clean to the bone on his hand.
He's now in surgery and expected to survive.
As for Butler, sources say he may have been startled by police and turned and ran. He was arrested on a downtown bridge by police.
Ritchie says Butler will face charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
According to police, Butler agreed to talk after his arrest.
He claimed the woman owed him $400 and he was asking about it and that's when he says the victim confronted him and appeared to be reaching for a box cutter, so Butler said he took off.
However, after police showed him the surveillance video, he allegedly said "I am expletive."
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