Man charged with attempted first-degree murder in Duluth grocery store robbery; victim remains in hospital

UPDATE (May 28, 11:10 am)—A 43-year-old man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder for attacking a man in a Duluth grocery store last Friday.

Meanwhile, police said on Tuesday that the victim was in stable condition but had significant head injuries.

In a criminal complaint filed Tuesday morning, the attacker is identified as Lance Alexander Tolbert. The complaint states that he lives in Duluth and his address is unknown.

The complaint states that the 81-year-old male victim used the restroom at Mount Royal Market before shopping that morning.

Duluth police have identified the victim as Bradley French.

Tolbert allegedly came out of a bathroom stall and began hitting French with a hammer, hitting him first near the head.

At some point, French was able to take the hammer from Tolbert. The victim told police the attack stopped when another person came into the bathroom. French says Tolbert then grabbed the hammer again and left the store.

According to the complaint, French said he had never seen or met Tolbert before and no words were exchanged before the attack.

The victim’s injuries included a skull fracture, a broken bone in the hand, a stab wound and numerous cuts.

Within fifteen minutes of the attack, a man matching Tolbert’s description was found walking away from Mount Royal on Wallace Avenue. He was wearing an insulated hunting-style camouflage coverall, protective shin guards, and “what appeared to be blood on his knees.”

The complaint states that there was an axe hanging from Tolbert’s belt, which also appeared to have blood on it.

The complaint states that Tolbert refused to make a statement when he was arrested.

The next day, police found Tolbert’s jacket and in the pocket “they found a hammer covered in what appeared to be blood.”

UPDATE (May 27, 2:10 p.m.) — Duluth police have released the name of the 81-year-old man who was attacked at Mount Royal Market Friday morning.

The victim’s name is Bradley French and police say his condition is currently unknown.

ORIGINAL POST:

DULUTH, Minnesota – An 81-year-old man is hospitalized with “significant head injuries” after being attacked with a weapon at Mount Royal Market Friday morning, according to Duluth police.

Duluth police responded to the attack around 8:50 a.m. at the supermarket in the 1600 block of Woodland Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found the man in a bathroom.

A 43-year-old Duluth man was later arrested in the area of ​​Wallace Avenue and 7th Street after fleeing the scene, according to police.

The suspect is being held in the St. Louis County Jail. He is tentatively charged with attempted first-degree murder. FOX 21 typically does not release suspects’ names until they are formally charged.

As of 12:15 p.m., the police did not yet know whether the victim and the suspect knew each other.

The weapon used is being investigated.

The victim’s condition was last reported by authorities as unknown.