A Louisiana man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing four colleagues aboard a charter bus at a Walmart in Bessemer, Alabama—one victim died from his injuries, authorities said.
Pierre Eskew, 35, and a 22-year-old colleague, Darryel Sutton, had been embroiled in a workplace dispute for several hours—or possibly days—over a female co-worker who rejected Eskew after he made romantic advances toward her, according to Bessemer Police Sgt. C. Selman.
Background
Both men worked as security guards for Fess Security and were part of a group of roughly 40 colleagues returning from Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Their charter bus stopped at the Walmart Supercenter in Bessemer for a scheduled snack break last Monday afternoon. It was during this stop that authorities say Eskew allegedly produced a knife and attacked Sutton, killing him and injuring three others.
The confrontation between Eskew and Sutton had been brewing, Selman told WBRC, with the dispute centered on the female co-worker who had rebuffed Eskew's romantic interest.
The Investigation
Bessemer Police responded to reports of a disturbance at approximately 1:13 p.m., according to a department Facebook post. Officers arrived to find four individuals suffering from stab wounds sustained during what authorities describe as an altercation on the chartered bus.
Sutton sustained critical injuries and was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later succumbed to his wounds, police said. The other three victims also received medical attention for their injuries. The current condition of those additional victims remains unclear.
Police took Eskew into custody following the incident. He faces murder charges in connection with Sutton's death. Fess Security declined to comment when contacted by AL.com. The remaining colleagues were transported back to Louisiana on a second bus arranged after the attack.
Key Takeaways
- Pierre Eskew, 35, of Louisiana, has been charged with murder for allegedly stabbing four co-workers aboard a charter bus at an Alabama Walmart
- Darryel Sutton, 22, died from his injuries; three other victims were also stabbed during the altercation
- Police say the dispute stemmed from romantic advances toward a female colleague who rejected Eskew
- The attack occurred as security guards returned to Louisiana after working Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee
- Authorities responded at approximately 1:13 p.m.; the investigation remains ongoing
What's Next
Eskew is expected to face formal arraignment proceedings in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Investigators with the Bessemer Police Department continue to compile evidence from the scene and interview witnesses. The case is being reviewed by local prosecutors, who have not yet indicated whether additional charges related to the three surviving victims will be filed.