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Deputies: Stabbing suspect captured inside Middleburg Walmart

Man ran off after co-worker stabbed at China Cafe, deputies say

MIDDLEBURG, Fla. – After an hours-long search, the suspect in Thursday afternoon's stabbing at a Middleburg restaurant was taken into custody, the Clay County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect, who deputies identified as Mingfu Wu, was caught just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Walmart across the street from China Cafe, where the attack occurred hours earlier. 

Wu, 58, is charged with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Wu, who possibly also goes by Jin Lin, ran off after stabbing his co-worker multiple times at their place of employment, the China Cafe on Branan Field Road, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the victim suffered life-threatening injuries, and was receiving medical treatment at last check.

The manhunt came to an end later in the evening when deputies said they found Wu, who had been considered possibly armed and dangerous, at the nearby Walmart and took him into custody with incident.

News4Jax cameras were rolling when deputies handcuffed Wu and walked him out of the store. 

WATCH: Extended video of suspect being taken into custody

Heather Meador was within feet of Wu inside the store.

"I saw it on the news earlier that they were looking for him. But when I walked past him, I never imagined it was him," Meador said. "It's scary. We were in there Christmas shopping and something like that is crazy."

Prior to Wu being led away in handcuffs, Meador said she and other shoppers knew something was up when law enforcement officers started pouring into the store.

"We knew it was something more than stealing because we saw the K-9 unit and cops were everywhere," she said.

Investigators said Wu was new to the area, and didn't know the area very well, so it came as no surprise that he didn't get far from where detectives said he stabbed a man. 


About the Authors
Erik Avanier headshot

Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience.

Scott Johnson headshot

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.

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