Man accused of attacking his mother allegedly attacked an elderly man

WDSU learned new details about the man accused of attacking his mother with a chainsaw, injuring two New Orleans police officers on Monday. John Pittman, 34, appeared in court Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors said Pittman is free on bail and will face charges related to a second attack that occurred less than a year ago. Pittman’s bail was revoked for a 2023 attack after he punched an elderly man at Union Passenger Station. According to court documents, someone called for help in the station’s restroom, and when an Amtrak security officer responded, that person yelled for them to stop Pittman. According to the documents, “the Amtrak security officer said as they approached Mr. Pittman, he clenched his fist and verbally communicated to them, ‘I just want to go home.'” The documents also said a white man, identified as Dale Ball, was lying on his back with a medium-sized pool of blood under his head. That document goes on to say Ball suffered a laceration to the back of his head. Pittman, now charged with a gruesome attack on his mother, is charged with attempted premeditated murder. His attorney, Garron Johnson, said his client suffers from mental health issues. Pittman’s bail for the attack on his mother is set at $1,000,000. Pittman is now charged with attempted premeditated murder, assault on a police officer, resisting an officer and disarming a peace officer. Pittman has been ordered to have no contact with his mother and if released on bail, he will be placed in an ankle bracelet. Pittman is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday, August 29, for a mental competency hearing.