SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — The suspect in a random Spokane Valley gas station stabbing that sent an 8-year-old boy to the hospital said "I'm sorry" to the boy's dad before stabbing the boy in the neck, shoulder and back, according to court documents.
Bruce Landahl, 30, made his first court appearance in connection with the stabbing on Monday afternoon. A judge set Landahl's bond at $5 million for attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault of a child.
KREM's Amanda Roley learned that Landahl was previously charged with third-degree burglary and theft.
Landahl entered a Spokane Valley HiCo store just before 4:30 p.m. and grabbed 8-year-old Jack Bush while he was playing on an iPad sitting across from his father at a table, officials said. Landahl began stabbing the victim and Bush's father, Jacob, jumped up and punched Landahl in the face.
Court documents said before the stabbing Ladahl said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," to Jacob.
Police said several witnesses helped restrain Landahl while others provided care to the victim. Spokane Valley Fire and AMR personnel responded to the scene and Bush was transported to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
According to court documents, Jack had a puncture wound to the right of his neck, a puncture wound on the upper right back, a laceration on his right shoulder and a laceration on his right hand middle finger.
"The puncture wound on J.B.'s [Jack's] neck was near his Carotid Artery," documents stated.
When police arrived at the scene, witnesses and the victim’s father were restraining Landahl and he was taken to the Public Safety Building. He was aggressive during transport and attempted to slip through his handcuffs, police said.
Police believe Landahl was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
According to authorities, Landahl is charged with attempted first degree murder and first degree assault of a child.
During an interview with detectives, Landahl said "he had taken 16 over-the-counter cough medicine pills that night because he has an addiction," court documents said.
A detective asked him what he was thinking at the time of the stabbing and he said, "I just wanted to bring good back," documents said.
Landahl later admitted "he was trying to kill the boy when he stabbed him" and said he felt "possessed," documents said.
Due to the random and vicious nature of this assault, Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detectives were called to the scene to continue the investigation.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, random stabbings do not happen often but there have been a handful within the last month. As of Nov. 2, there were six stabbings over an 11-day period in Spokane.