TEXARKANA -- A Texarkana man was arrested early Friday in an attack on two convenience store clerks, police said.
David Clark, 24, has been charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery and second-degree battery in the attack and cutting of both men with a "large, sharp object," police spokesman Kristi Mitchell said.
Clark reportedly entered the Stop and Shop on East Ninth Street just before 8 a.m. Friday and took items to the counter as if he intended to purchase them. But when the clerk at the register began to ring up the items, Clark "reached over the counter and cut the employee's neck with a sharp object" before running behind the counter and cutting the second employee in the abdomen, Mitchell said.
Clark then attempted to open the register, but he was unsuccessful and instead fled on foot to a residence about two blocks away, near the corner of Marietta and Belmont streets, where he was arrested less than an hour later, Mitchell said.
Officer T.J. Miles arrived on the scene and noticed the first victim inside the store, bleeding from a large neck wound and unable to speak, police said.
"Officer Miles was able to position the victim and stopped the bleeding by utilizing a T-shirt and applying pressure," said Mitchell, adding that officer Christine Knouse arrived shortly after and tended to the second victim's deep abdominal laceration by putting pressure on the wound with her hand to stop the bleeding.
The officers continued to apply pressure, stabilizing both victims until a LifeNet paramedic unit arrived, Mitchell said.
Both victims were recovering at local hospitals Saturday, police said.
State Desk on 03/29/2015