Police: Columbus man was seen ‘acting odd’ before stabbing woman at Starbucks

The 34-year-old man accused of stabbing a woman outside of a Columbus Starbucks was pacing back in forth in front of the business before the attack, according to testimony Tuesday morning in Recorder’s Court.

Hannibal Herman Chambers pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. He was ordered held in the Muscogee County Jail under bonds totaling $21,000.

Judge Julius Hunter ordered that Chambers be mentally evaluated by a county physician after Columbus public defender Robin King requested it. The case was bound over to Superior Court.

Columbus Police Officer Emmanuel Rosado said he was called to the Starbucks at 4519 Woodrufff Road around 11:22 a.m. Thursday to investigate a stabbing in the parking lot.

The victim was found on the scene suffering from stab wounds to the head, back and shoulder. She was treated at the Midtown Medical Center and released.

Witnesses reported seeing Chambers, who frequents the area, in and out of Starbucks all morning. He was allegedly pacing and back forth in front of the coffee shop with a loaf of bread in his hand. He was yelling and acting odd around 10:30 a.m., a woman reported.

Rosado said Chambers approached the victim from behind and stabbed her as she was trying to enter her vehicle. He was still holding the bread in his hand during the attack, a witness testified.

A bent blade about 3 inches long was found on the sidewalk near the crime scene. It resembled a steak knife, but the handle was missing, Rosado told the court.

Rosado said the suspect ran across Manchester Expressway dressed in a red plaid shirt and jeans immediately after the incident. A witness followed him to his home in the 1900 block of 44th Street, where authorities arrested him at 2:33 p.m. Thursday.

This story was originally published April 11, 2017 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Police: Columbus man was seen ‘acting odd’ before stabbing woman at Starbucks."