Kroger worker stabbed to death by man who had been threatening staff, Indiana cops say

Police in Indiana are searching for a man accused of fatally stabbing a Kroger employee inside the grocery store.

The incident began at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, when a man was threatening staff members at the Fort Wayne store, the Fort Wayne Police Department said in a news release.

The man left the store, but police said he returned about a half hour later. He then stabbed a female worker before fleeing in a vehicle, police said.

Officers said the Kroger worker was taken to a hospital, where she died. Her identity has not been publicly disclosed.

“Officers and detectives are exhausting every lead to identity and locate the suspect,” police said. “This appears to be a targeted incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.”

Despite police calling it a targeted incident, officers said the victim and accused suspect did not know one another. Fort Wayne Police Sgt. Jeremy Webb said “maybe some words were exchanged” during the man’s first visit inside the store, WANE reported.

Kroger officials said in a statement to WPTA it is “saddened by the terrible news.” The store has been temporarily closed.

“The safety of our associates and customers is always our top priority,” Kroger said in the statement. “Right now, our team is working with the police to assist with the investigation in any way we can.”

Fort Wayne is about 125 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

This story was originally published December 7, 2023 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Kroger worker stabbed to death by man who had been threatening staff, Indiana cops say."