Job applicant stops Walmart stabber

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - A bouncer who works in Buffalo’s Chippewa Entertainment District put his skills to work Wednesday at the new Walmart store at Sheridan Drive and Bailey Avenue.

Jonathan Battey, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 300 pounds, was applying for a job at the store when he heard a woman screaming, “help, help, I’ve been stabbed. He has a knife...”

READ MORE | Original report of the incident

Battey’s children and their mother were in the same area that the screams were coming from, and his immediate thoughts were about his family and the woman who was screaming.

“All of the sudden this guy pops out with a four-five inch hunting knife, right in front of me, nobody around me what doing anything about it,” he explained. He let the knife-wielding man get in front of him, before he moved into action.

He approached the man from behind and says he, “basically, I just grabbed his arm, removed the knife... told him if he moves, might not be a good choice for him.”

Battey held the man’s arms behind his back in an arm lock , until Amherst Police arrived just a few minutes later.

Walmart management considers Mr. Battey a hero.  Liz Holton, the store's co-manager said, "We appreciate what he did."

The female victim, who’s identity has not been released, had blood coming from her back but did not appear to be seriously wounded. She declined emergency medical attention.

Amherst Police arrested 61-year-old Edward Grabiarz and charged him with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.

The woman who was stabbed is said to be 50 years old. Police officials say they don’t yet know a motive.

Battey said after it was over, “My kids were in that store too, I was just thinking he had a big knife, I didn’t want him hurting nobody else.”