Man walks into Bayou La Batre Alabama City Hall and stabs city magistrate
BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. May 20 2021 Without warning Tuesday, a man walked inside the Bayou La Batre City Hall and stabbed the city court magistrate, police said.
Police Chief Scott Dagg told FOX10 News that the man will be charged with attempted murder. He said the victim, Marcia Barnes – the wife of Mayor Henry Barnes – has been taken to the hospital.
“Were shocked,” he said. “We don’t know what sparked it.”
Dagg identified the suspect as Phoxay Keomanivong, 47, and added that police have interacted with him before.
He now faces charges of attempted murder and escape, which Dagg said is related to an attempt the Bayou La Batre resident made to run away when they were taking him form the police station to Mobile County Metro Jail
Dagg said Keomanivong told investigators following the stabbing that he was trying to kill police officers.
“His intent was to kill law enforcement and attacking the magistrate was one way to get to us,” he said. “He was familiar to us. Over the years, we’ve known him.”
Dagg told FOX10 News that Keomanivong was on the docket for Tuesday, set to answer misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession, disorderly conduct and traffic offenses. He said there was another city worker in the magistrate’s office when the alleged assailant entered.
“Fortunately, the other city employee was not injured or harmed,” he said. “However, the individual, you know, after he left the area of the magistrate’s office made his way through City Hall and pretty much terrorized everybody else in our City Hall.”
Only Barnes suffered a stab wound, but the chief said other workers hurt themselves trying to flee.
“It’s pretty terrifying, you know, during this day and age to have these types of events happen,” he said.
City Hall has been temporarily closed, and municipal court canceled for Tuesday. Dagg said City Hall likely will remain closed for a couple more days.
WALA
