Grocery worker stabbed multiple times in attempted robbery

A grocery store worker is in critical but stable condition after being stabbed multiple times in the abdomen during an attempted robbery in West Fort Worth Wednesday afternoon.

Fort Worth police said officers were called to a robbery at a Kroger on Camp Bowie West just after noon and learned a man entered the store with a knife and tried to rob one of the cashiers.

During the attempted robbery, police said a woman in her 20s was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen.

A representative for Kroger said the "sad and unfortunate situation" involved an employee and that "the entire Kroger family offers our thoughts, prayers, and support to our associate and their family."

NBC 5 News

The woman, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition.

Police said the man who attempted to rob the store was taken into custody. His name has not been released and it's not immediately clear what charges he'll face.

Kroger said in their statement they are cooperating with law enforcement and the store will remain closed until the investigation at the store is complete.

They also said they have a third-party armed security guard service at the store in the evenings, and plan to extend those services from opening until close, for the time being.

Police spent a few hours interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence inside.

James Mccaffrey arrived around 2 p.m. after getting a message from his wife, who works at the store.

"She just sent me a text and said that there was an employee stabbing and they won’t let anybody leave and nobody can come in the store, they got the store shut down," he said.

His wife walked out shortly afterward, hugging and kissing him.

Employee Eric Breithaupt said he tried to clock in around 2 p.m. when he was told to go home.

He said he's often in the parking lot managing shopping carts and says the incident makes him worry.

“I’m out here by myself at night, so I wonder if I’ll ever get confronted to give up money or something," Breithaupt said.

Long-time customers said the incident also hit close to home for them, since they've gotten to know many of the employees.

"Pretty much almost every employee knows me. I come here, like I said, everyday to get dinner, so, it’s very shocking, you know, to see something like this," said customer Marissa Billareal. "We’re a little community here and family, so I hope everybody in there is okay and good."

Police said the investigation into the robbery and attack is ongoing and no other information was released.