SPOKANE, Wash. — Strangers are coming together to help the family of a little boy who was stabbed randomly at a Spokane Valley gas station on Saturday.
A group of local residents created a Facebook page called Healing and Hope for the Bush Family. According to the Facebook page, 8-year-old Jack Bush is at home with his family after being stabbed several times in the neck and abdomen.
Bruce D. Landahl, 30, entered the HiCo store just before 4:30 p.m. and grabbed Jack while he was playing on an iPad sitting across from his father at a table, officials said. Landahl began stabbing Jack until his father, Jacob, jumped up to defend him.
The Facebook page was started by the friends of Quincey Brooks. Administrators for the page said Brooks saw the stabbing unfold and helped the boy. They said they’re “just well-meaning strangers who wanted to help.”
"It was scary. It really was. I was shaking and crying because you never know that it's going to happen to you. You always think not in my town will it happen here. And it does," Brooks said.
Brooks wrote on the page about what happened.
“I was in the laundromat when this happened. In fact, I was sitting a few tables down from Jack and Jacob shortly before this happened. I had moved my things from my table into the laundromat before the man came in and hurt this little boy. Even though I didn't see it, it was terrifying all the same but it was miraculous the way everyone came together to help. The man who stabbed Jack was held down by a stranger with no care for his own safety so that man couldn't get away or hurt anyone else. It was amazing to see everyone come together in the sudden crisis and I do wish it hadn't been under those circumstances but I would do it all over again to make sure that child or any child makes it out alive and well. Thank you to everyone who was there that night. You didn't question, you didn't run. You jumped to help and little Jack is okay and at home because of it,” they wrote.
One of the administrators said, “Once we learned their whole story we just had to do something bigger than just handing over a toy.”
This isn’t the only tragic event to impact the family in recent months. According to the Facebook page, the Bush family recently moved to Spokane from Utah after the death of their baby. Administrators said the family found it hard to keep living in the same place.
At the time of the stabbing, Jack’s mom, Candace, was on her way home from work when her car broke down and caught on fire. She was waiting for a tow truck.
The group is now working to raise money for the family to pay for things like counseling and therapy services for Jack and Jacob, a car, a weighted blanket and autism-friendly gifts and experiences. They've already received a huge outpouring of support and likes to the page.
"I really wish it didn't happen, but I'm happy to see the community come together like this," Brooks said. "I like to help in any way I can. I know that people have it hard. I've had it hard before. Especially since it's a child so young, they need all the help they can get."
The suspect will made his first court appearance for the charges of first degree attempted murder and first degree assault of a child Monday afternoon. He's being held on $5 million bond.