A 28-year-old Anchorage man was charged this week with attempted murder in a July 4 stabbing of a 74-year-old woman who was using a walker when the kitchen-knife attack occurred, authorities say.
Rigoberto Walker was indicted by an Anchorage grand jury Wednesday for attempted murder and multiple felony assault counts for the stabbing that left the woman hospitalized with multiple wounds, according to state prosecutors.
Walker was arrested and arraigned on multiple assault counts on July 5.
He’s accused of approaching the woman near Centennial Circle, then attacking her with what police described as a large kitchen knife. The woman was moving a plant when the stabbing occurred, just before 7:45 p.m., and didn’t even realize what was happening initially. Walker is also accused of threatening two other people who tried to help the woman.
One of the victims identified Walker after police apprehended him shortly after the attacks, prosecutors say.
Walker is scheduled for arraignment on the attempted murder charge Friday.
He was also arrested and ultimately convicted of arson in a case last year that resulted in the closure of the restrooms at the Anchorage downtown transit center. Walker pleaded no contest to a second-degree arson in the case, in which he was accused of intentionally starting a fire that damaged the men’s restroom in the bus depot.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.