A Georgia man accused of assaulting two women with a razor blamed coronavirus stress to the “unprovoked” attack, police said.
Eric Keith Mitchell, 39, of Athens, was arrested late Sunday in the parking lot of a Golden Pantry where he allegedly attacked the women as they left the grocery store, Athens-Clarke County police said.
Mitchell, who was armed with a razor knife, was taken into custody by a sergeant who was on patrol nearby, police said.
He then blamed stress over COVID-19, cops allege.
“Mitchell cited stress from COVID-19 concerns as the precipitating factor for the unprovoked attacks,” police said in a statement Monday.
The victims, who were not identified, are recent graduates from the University of Georgia. They were seriously injured during the incident and were taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
Mitchell was later charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and aggravated battery. He remained held without bail Monday at the Clarke County Jail, records show.
A message seeking additional comment from Athens-Clarke County police was not immediately returned.
