A Pittsburgh man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 12-year-old boy inside the McDonald’s restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon, police said.
According to Pittsburgh police, the boy was stabbed in the neck inside the McDonald’s at Liberty Avenue and Stanwix Street near Market Square. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Charles Edward Turner, 51, was charged by Pittsburgh police with criminal attempt homicide, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and resisting arrest.
Turner, who was taken into custody outside the restaurant, is being held at Allegheny County Jail.
According to KDKA-TV, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s news partner, a black and yellow box cutter was found at the scene. The blade was broken, and the broken piece was recovered where the stabbing took place.
The boy was hospitalized in critical condition after being stabbed in the neck shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday at the restaurant in the 500 block of Liberty Avenue, police said.
Police told WPXI the boy was part of a family of four standing in line, when a “random” man approached and stabbed the boy in the neck. Police and EMS responded to the call just after 2 p.m.
Detectives from the department’s Major Crimes and Crime Scene units processed the scene, reviewed video evidence and interviewed eyewitnesses.
Cara Cruz, a public safety spokeswoman, told KDKA the child was standing in line with his family when the incident happened. “He was with his family, he was standing in line, they had just zipped in for one quick thing,” she said.
It’s unclear if the attack was random or planned.
Ms. Cruz said police don’t believe the child and Mr. Turner knew each other, KDKA reported.
KDKA also reported that Mr. Turner resisted arrest by punching and kicking officers. Court documents said one officer had cuts on his face and two other victims had minor injuries.
Ms. Cruz told KDKA that McDonald’s employees tried to help.
“Two McDonald’s employees did try to intervene and help the child,” Ms. Cruz told KDKA.
