A routine break in the parking lot of the West Wendover Avenue Walmart turned into a life‑or‑death emergency Tuesday night when an employee was stabbed in the neck and left bleeding heavily until a nearby shopper stepped in with a paper towel and some quick thinking.
Greensboro officials say the woman was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery. Her injuries, while serious, are not considered life‑threatening. Police arrested 52‑year‑old Tokyia Brown nearby and charged her with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. She is being held without bond as detectives continue to sort out what sparked the violence.
How the parking‑lot confrontation unfolded
Greensboro police say officers were dispatched around 7:25 p.m. Tuesday to the 4400 block of West Wendover Avenue, where they found a woman suffering from a stab wound in the parking lot. According to a City of Greensboro statement, the GPD Violent Crime Reduction Team later located the suspect’s vehicle on Big Tree Way and took Brown into custody.
The city reports that Brown is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, and notes that the case remains an active investigation. Officials have not publicly identified a motive or given additional details on what led up to the stabbing.
Bystander’s paper towel turns into a lifeline
A shopper who identified themself as London Green told DC News Now that they grabbed a paper towel and pressed it to the victim’s deep neck wound to try to slow the bleeding.
According to the outlet, the victim is a Walmart employee who had been on a break when the confrontation began. Green described heavy bleeding at the scene and said quick action from bystanders and store staff helped keep the situation from turning fatal, with employees calling 911 as the woman made it back into the store.
Grim wound details, captured on surveillance
Court reporting cited by Law&Crime states that a prosecutor told a judge the stab wound crossed the carotid artery and was deep enough to reach the top of the victim’s left lung.
Local coverage has noted that the woman’s injuries required surgery but were ultimately described as non‑life‑threatening. Police say Walmart surveillance cameras recorded the attack and that employees who rushed in to help called 911 as paramedics arrived.
Charges, custody and what comes next
Brown was taken into custody near the Walmart and is being held at the Guilford County jail without bond, according to City of Greensboro. She faces a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, and prosecutors will determine how to proceed as more evidence is reviewed.
Investigators say they are still working to piece together the sequence of events that led to the stabbing and have not publicly said whether the suspect and victim knew each other before the attack.
Legal note
The city release indicates that court records in the case are publicly available through Guilford County eCourts, and Brown is expected to appear in court as the charge moves through the system. As of now, officials have not shared any information about a possible prior relationship between Brown and the victim and are still gathering statements and evidence.
Police put out call for witnesses
Authorities are asking anyone who saw the confrontation or has video from the area to contact Greensboro police as the investigation continues. The city’s post and local reporting both highlight how fast‑acting shoppers and Walmart employees helped keep the injured woman alive until first responders could take over.
