A Panda Express employee in Missouri was stabbed by an unhappy customer just because of food quality. Local authorities said that the alarming incident happened on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at a Richmond Heights restaurant location.
The Missouri police officials confirmed that the stabbing happened at around 3:50 p.m. When cops were called to the Panda Express outlet, they found a female employee punched in the head and a male staff stabbed in the back.
The man was taken to the nearest hospital for a medical evaluation. Luckily, his injuries were not that severe, and was able to be released sooner.
Missouri: Panda Express Employee Stabbed by Customer Over Food Quality
According to Fox Business' latest report, the Missouri stabber was identified as 33-year-old Phillip Person. He was accused of assaulting the two Panda Express employees just because the Black man was unhappy with his food.
Based on the image that law enforcement officials provided, Person is a Black man with braided hair and a full beard. The Panda Express manager shared what happened before Nelson stabbed the male employee.
Via Fox 2 Now, the manager (who wasn't named for security purposes) said that Phillip had already eaten half of his food when he demanded a refund.
Aside from this, he also didn't have a receipt to prove that he ordered something at the Panda Express. When the manager and other employees tried to calm the irate customer, he allegedly threatened to shoot them.
The restaurant outlet was left with no other choice but to replace the man's food. However, he came back and threw the item at the Panda Express employees.
After that, he reportedly attacked workers. The Panda Express manager said that they were able to get Person outside of the establishment. But, he was able to stab a male employee.
The manager further stated that the suspect drove off in a work truck after the incident. Thankfully, he was stopped and arrested nearby on Eager Road at the Musick Memorial Drive.
Investigators confirmed that Phillip Person had a knife when he was arrested; the crime object was quickly taken into evidence. Because of this, Person was charged with a first-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, as well as armed criminal action.
Authorities said that the Black man was set at a $250,000 bond, which includes a requirement that he stays 500 feet away from all Panda Express restaurants.
The Missouri-based Panda Express branch issued a statement after the stabbing incident, saying that the safety and health of its associates and guests are its top priority.
The restaurant's management thanked the police for their quick action and the efforts of first responders. Panda Express confirmed that victims are on the path to recovery.
