CLOVIS, N.M. -- A former Walmart employee who pleaded guilty to stabbing two people while on duty was sentenced to eight years in prison, authorities announced Tuesday afternoon.
Guadalupe Murillo, 321, was found guilty May 28, 2012, on two charges of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and one misdemeanor count of Unlawful Possession of a Switchblade, Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matthew Chandler said.
It was on the evening of Aug. 14, 2010, when police said Carlos Lopez and Celestino Owens, both of Clovis, entered Walmart with their families to purchase food for a cookout.
Murillo, who was a Walmart employee, approached Lopez and threatened to fight him, authorities said.
Police said Murillo pulled a switchblade knife out of his pocket, opened the blade and stabbed Lopez several times in the chest.
While attempting to take the knife away from Murillo, Owens was also stabbed, authorities said. He was stabbed just below the chin.
Murillo, according to authorities, returned to the automotive section of the store where he was supposed to be working.
Both of the victims were transported to the hospital. Murillo was located and arrested by Clovis Police in the clothing section of the store.
Authorities said Murillo will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his time in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Upon his release, authorities said he will be placed on two years of intensely supervised parole.
