Woman allegedly stabbed fellow train passenger 14 times with steak knife

TEMPE, Ariz. (TCN) -- A woman has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing a fellow passenger on a light rail train. 

On Feb. 12, officers received a report of a fight on a light rail train near the Arizona State University campus, KPNX reports. Responding officers found a woman bleeding profusely and suffering from multiple stab wounds.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, the 42-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, was stabbed at least 14 times with a steak knife. Police say she was stabbed in both thighs, the left breast, the left forearm, the right abdomen, the left armpit, and twice in the jaw. 

She was taken to a hospital for emergency surgery, KPNX reports. She is now in stable condition.

According to court records obtained by KPNX, light rail video surveillance showed the victim board the train and sit across from another woman. The victim was then seen getting up and standing over the other woman, and shortly thereafter, a fight broke out between the two. The victim is seen on the surveillance footage being stabbed at least a dozen times. The alleged attacker is then seen leaving the light rail train while holding the knife in one hand and a pizza box in the other.

According to a witness, the victim verbally confronted the attacker before the fight occurred, KPNX reports. The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Allante Wallace. 

Law & Crime reports she was charged after she allegedly contacted a defense attorney and then called the police to turn herself in.

At her first court appearance, Wallace’s attorney said she acted in self-defense and she had “no other choice” but to stab the woman because everyone else on the train “was just watching,” according to KPNX.

Wallace is being held on $350,000 bond.

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