ELKVIEW, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A employee of the Elkview McDonald’s was arrested last month for stabbing a restaurant patron in the neck after following him into the restroom area.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at around 4:30pm, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the 105 Crossings Mall in Elkview, Kanawha County, West Virginia in response to a robbery.
Sheriff Deputies were informed that the robbery in question involved a male victim who had been injured with a knife at the Elkview McDonalds, and that the suspect was last seen leaving the area on foot.
Investigating Deputy M.D. Burdette was able to locate the suspect – identified as Richard W. Thornton, 31 years old of Elkview, WV – near the Speedway at 1033 Little Sandy Road. Thornton was found to still be in possession of the victim’s wallet, as well as a bloody fixed blade knife.
Reports indicate that the victim was a 56-year-male customer at the restaurant who was followed by Mr. Thornton – an employee of the restaurant – upon entering the restroom area. Inside, Thornton robbed the victim of his wallet “cut him multiple times in the face with the knife and stabbed him in the neck.” It is unclear whether Thornton was actively on duty as a member of the restaurant’s staff at the time incident occurred.
The victim was found in the restroom by other restaurant patrons after having been left behind by Thornton, who left the scene on foot. The victim was transported to CAMC General Hospital with “serious facial injuries and stab wounds to the neck.”
An investigation into the incident led to the arrest of Richard William Thornton, who faces one Felony count of First-Degree Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, and one Felony count of Malicious Wounding.
Thornton was arraigned by a Kanawha County Magistrate and transported to South Central Regional Jail to be held on a $100,000 bond.