Las Cruces Mall Stabbing: Suspected shoplifter assaulted, stabbed Dillard’s employee

The man allegedly involved in Saturday’s stabbing at the Mesilla Valley Mall is recovering at an El Paso hospital after police deployed bean-bag and Taser rounds.

Police said the stabbing happened shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

Investigators learned the 31-year-old man was suspected of shoplifting from Dillard’s store on the west side of the mall. Police said the suspect physically assaulted several employees and stabbed an employee as he fled from the mall.

Las Cruces police officers encountered the suspect in the parking lot on the southeast side of the mall.

” Officers gave him multiple commands, but he refused to obey those commands. Police deployed bean-bag and Taser rounds before taking him into custody, ” said police officials in a news release.

The suspect will be identified when the investigation is complete, police said.

The Dillard’s employee allegedly stabbed by the suspect was treated and released, police said.