Walmart Hostage in Critical Condition after Stabbing; Ex-Boyfriend in Custody

By WYDaily Staff Tuesday, July 27, 2010

A 49-year-old Newport News man is being held without bond after stabbing a woman and holding her hostage for nearly two hours at the Tabb Walmart.

James Perry Davis, of the 1000 block of 26th Street, surrendered after stabbing an ex-girlfriend and keeping police at bay from about 12:40 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The woman, who was not identified, was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

York County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Dennis Ivey, Jr. said Davis entered the store carrying a large butcher knife. Police believe Davis went directly to the optical department, where his ex-girlfriend worked, and accosted her.

Ivey said someone called 911 around 12:40 p.m. to report a woman had been stabbed, and the first deputy on the scene found Davis holding the knife to the woman's throat and threatening to cut her if police didn't back off.

The deputy retreated, Ivey said, keeping Davis in sight while calling for backup, negotiators and medics.

Negotiators spoke to Davis while police went about evacuating the store. Ivey said the evacuation went quickly.

Ivey said negotiators were going to move in when they saw Davis had laid down the knife and was on the floor, apparently surrendered. Police went in quickly and took Davis into custody without further incident.

No motive for the attack had been stated, Ivey said, except that the pair had had a prior relationship.

Davis was taken to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. He faces charges of aggravated malicious wounding and abduction.

According to online circuit court case information, Davis pleaded guilty to unspecified drug charges in Newport News in 1998. He received a five-year sentence, serving several months at a time with the remainder suspended in response to several unspecified charges that brought him back to court. That continued until a July 2006 arrest that resulted in revocation of the suspended sentence and probation, and in December 2006 reinstated the three years remaining on the 1998 charge.