A man accused of attacking a Home Depot employee with a knife was arrested at gunpoint Friday at the home improvement store in Encinitas, officials confirmed.
According to Sgt. Scott Bligh, of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO), suspect Sean Burton, 34, was arrested at a Home Depot store located at 1001 N. El Camino Real after he allegedly threw a folding blade knife at an employee as the victim was watering plants at the garden center portion of the store.
The SDSO said deputies with the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station were called to the business after Burton was spotted driving recklessly at a very high speed in the Home Depot parking lot.
When officers arrived, witnesses told police Burton had attacked the Home Depot employee, who was bleeding after suffering a minor leg wound.
Deputies made contact with Burton inside the Home Depot store. Guns drawn, deputies took the suspect into custody inside the store.
Burton was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and taken to Vista Detention Facility.
The SDSO said an off-duty paramedic was at the Home Depot at the time of the attack and quickly rushed to the aid of the injured employee. The victim was treated at Scripps La Jolla hospital and soon released.
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The incident is under investigation. No further details were released. Anyone with information on this case can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Jeff Finkle, a Home Depot employee, told NBC 7 on Saturday that he was shocked to hear the news of what had happened at the store.
“I think it’s crazy. The people in here are very nice and friendly," Finkle said. "It’s something that shouldn’t have happened in a nice community.”
Finkle said he's never seen any disturbances like this in the store or around the parking lot.
