PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh police said a 12-year-old boy was stabbed inside a McDonald’s in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.
Police said they arrested Charles Edward Turner, 51, in connection with the stabbing. He faces several charges, including an attempted criminal homicide.
The boy was taken to hospital in critical condition. A criminal complaint indicates that a doctor improved his condition to stable. It was also said that a black and yellow box cutter was recovered from the scene and a piece of razor blade was recovered which broke the box cutter where the stabbing happened.
“It’s really a tragic thing on a beautiful Saturday downtown,” said Cara Cruz, who is the public information non-commissioned officer in the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety.
Police said the 12-year-old was stabbed in the neck inside McDonald’s on Liberty Avenue and on Stanwix Street shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday. Cruz said the boy was in line with his family when the incident occurred.
“He was with his family, he was in line, they just zipped up to do something fast,” Cruz said.
People walking through the busy downtown area were shocked and frightened when they heard the news.
“I think it’s terrible that something like this could happen,” said Anthony Benson, who has just moved to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia.
“We’re here all the time, people are here all the time, it’s scary, it’s scary and it’s a kid … that’s scary,” said Maggie Kishbaugh, a student at Duquesne University.
Cruz said Turner was in line behind the boy and his family. According to a criminal complaint, a witness said Turner attacked the child from behind and people tried to lower him and noticed that the child’s neck was cut.
Documents also indicate that Turner resisted arrest by punching officers. Court documents said one officer had cuts on his face and two other victims had minor injuries.
Turner is charged with attempted criminal homicide, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and resisting arrest.
He is currently in the Allegheny County Prison.
Jerry Dean, of Uniontown, was downtown with his family when he saw the scene.
“I noticed there were a lot of police cars here and when we approached, it looked like they were pulling out a handcuffed gentleman,” he said. “It’s scary. I have a 15-year-old girl who will soon be 16, and I just thought if I could have been drinking something or whatever.”
Cruz said when the boy was stabbed, employees tried to help him.
“Two McDonald’s employees tried to intervene and help the boy and the police and EMS arrived at the scene,” Cruz said.
Cruz said police do not believe the boy and Turner knew each other. Nor do they know if it was a random act.
“It just shows you that you have to be very careful these days, wherever you are, wherever you go,” Benson said.
“I feel safe in that area, so maybe now we shouldn’t feel so safe being here, I guess more conscious,” Kishbaugh said.
The Liberty Avenue McDonald’s is closed. There is a sign on the door indicating that they will open on Sunday.