Man Charged in Box Cutter Attack at Brooklyn Center Cub Foods

Dec 15

A box-cutter stabbing inside a Brooklyn Center grocery store last week has led to felony assault charges against a 71-year-old suspect.

Court records show Brooklyn Center police were called to Cub Foods at 3245 County Road 10 on Monday, Dec. 8 after reports of a fight that was upgraded while officers were en route to a stabbing.

When police arrived, they found an adult man bleeding from a wound to his chest. After he was able to calm down, he told officers what led up to the incident.

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According to the criminal complaint, the victim said he was waiting to use a coin machine inside the store when an older man was using it and appeared to be struggling. The victim offered to help, which appeared to upset the man. After finishing his transaction, the man walked away but then abruptly turned back and moved toward the victim in an aggressive manner.

The victim admitted he swung at the man. After the brief encounter ended and the two were separated, the victim realized he had been cut. He was taken to a hospital, where the wound was closed with several sutures.

Surveillance video reviewed by investigators captured the encounter. The footage shows the man later identified as Edward Kenneth Collins, 71, being escorted away from the area by another man. Collins then turned around, pushed the other man twice and moved back toward the victim. As he approached, Collins reached to his right waistline and pulled out a box cutter.

The video shows Collins continuing to advance toward the victim until he was within a couple of feet. The victim swung at Collins, after which Collins swung several times at the victim. Two cut marks are visible on the victim’s jacket in the footage. Several people quickly stepped in and separated the two.

Police took Collins into custody at the scene and recovered a box cutter, which was logged into evidence.

Collins is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and one day. He remains in custody as the case moves forward.

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