LYNNWOOD, Wash. — Philip Herrera said little as he was identified as the man who repeatedly stabbed a food worker after the two exchanged angry words inside the Alderwood Mall.
Almost immediately, his court appointed attorney laid out a case for self-defense.
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"This wasn't unprovoked," said Robert O'Neal, a Snohomish County public defender. "There is a significant amount of provocation. The allegation is that the alleged victim punched my client in the back of his head as he was walking away."
According to court documents, Herrera walked by Gyro Express Sunday and complained that a worker was wearing only one glove as he prepared food.
The alleged victim, manager Tariq Madjri, responded Herrera could eat elsewhere.
Herrera told Madjri's his "face made him lose his appetite."
He then knocked cups and other items off the counter and walked away. The documents say Madjri climbed over the counter, came up behind Herrera and struck him in the back of the head.
Herrera wrestled him to the floor, pulled out a folding knife and stabbed Madjri four times in his lower back.
A good Samaritan tried to break up the fight and was stabbed, too. Customers ran from the mall; two women were hurt in the pandemonium.
"I truly don't believe he would be a harm to anyone," Janie Lanz Herrera, his wife of seven years, told the judge. She asked that he be released.
"He doesn't have a record," said Janie Lanz Herrera. "And I trust him with my children. And so this seems very unfortunate."
Despite that, the judge set bail at $50,000.
The Snohomish County prosecutor has until Thursday to file formal charges, the same day Herrera turns 38 years old.
Stay with kiro7.com for updates.
'This is unfortunate. I want to make sure the truth gets out.' - #AlderwoodMall stabbing suspect Philip Herrera's wife. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/Tbx7XfznrM
— DeborahHorne (@DeborahKIRO7) January 17, 2017
A food court employee was critically injured in a stabbing today at Lynnwood's Alderwood Mall. A second person stabbed was a mall patron, a "good Samaritan -- trying to put a stop to what he thought was someone trying to take another person's life." Four people were injured, two while fleeing the scene. The suspect is in custody. [kiro.tv/LynnwoodMall] Report on KIRO 7 News at 5 p.m. on-air and at kiro.tv/LiveNews
Posted by KIRO 7 News on Sunday, January 15, 2017
Good Samaritan 'saved life' @AlderwoodMall food court worker, says @lynnwoodfire Batt. Chief Jason Turner. 4 people hurt. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/X9fqsbv0Xx
— DeborahHorne (@DeborahKIRO7) January 15, 2017
Assault (stabbing) in the Food Court of Alderwood Mall @ 1:51 pm. Suspect in custody. Victim transported to HarborView. Updates to follow.
— Lynnwood Police (@LynnwoodPD) January 15, 2017
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