Police: CoGo's Machete Attack Suspect Said Victim 'Was Casting Multiple Spells On Him'
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GREENFIELD (KDKA) – One person is in custody after allegedly attacking a convenience store employee with a machete in Greenfield.
According to police, the incident happened at the CoGo's in the 4000 block of Beechwood Boulevard around 1:45 p.m.
A man reportedly entered the store through a back entrance with two machetes and stabbed a 27-year-old employee twice. Several customers and other employees inside the store, acting as Good Samaritans, intervened in the confrontation, disarmed the suspect and were able to hold him down until police arrived.
He is identified as 25-year Thomas Byrne.
Authorities say Byrne and the employee knew one another, and may have been roommates at one time.
According to police, Byrne told them he did it because the victim, Michael Weist, "was casting multiple spells on him."
WEIRD: 25 yr old Thomas Byrne, accused of today's machete attack on a CoGo employee, told police it was because employee "was casting multiple spells on him." pic.twitter.com/LOecyQYpMq
— Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) July 25, 2018
Weist, the store's assistant manager, was last listed in serious but stable condition. And one of the customers who intervened was also hurt during the incident, but he did not want to be hospitalized.
Byrne suffered an injury to his forearm in the incident and was treated at UPMC Mercy Hospital. He was taken into custody and is now facing felony aggravated assault charges.
He also told police he was released just three weeks ago from the psychiatric ward of the Cleveland Clinic - Lutheran Hospital.
