Wal-Mart stabbing thought to be revenge

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Police say a man remains in serious condition after he was stabbed inside a Portsmouth Wal-Mart Monday evening.

According to Jan Clark with the Portsmouth Police Department, a call referencing a stabbing came in at 8:46 p.m. Monday evening in the 1000 block of Frederick Boulevard. Officials found a man suffering from multiple cuts to his body inside of the store.

He was transferred to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and is in serious condition.

A man named Chris told WAVY.com he was in the Walmart and saw two men on the floor. The victim was seen lying in blood and witnesses realized he had been stabbed several times.

Chris said security guards were telling shoppers to stay back, but he felt he had to do something. At that time, he grabbed a barstool and hit the suspect over the head, knocking him unconscious. He and other shoppers pulled the victim away from the suspect, in case the man woke up.

"I did what I did because I would want someone to do it for me. If I was on the floor in Wal-Mart being stabbed I'd want someone to help me," Chris said.

Police say several onlookers reportedly held down the suspect following the assault. According to Clark, the suspect suffered minor injuries and is in stable condition

His identity is being withheld at this time to protect him and the victim, Clark said.

Warrants have been secured for aggravated malicious wounding and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

"The motive appears, at this time, to be some type of retaliation from a past encounter between the suspect and a family member of the victim."

Stay with WAVY.com for more on this developing story.