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Target Sues ‘Hero’ Who Saved Teen Girl From Knife-Wielding Assailant In Store

By Meaghan Ellis
Published on: 08:48 PST, Jul 23, 2015

Michael Turner reportedly saved a young girl from being attacked by a knife-wielding assailant in Target. While most would have considered his bravery an act of heroism, apparently, Target disagrees, which is why the department store has reportedly filed a lawsuit against him. Although the incident occurred two years ago, Turner is making headlines for his recent photo that has been circulating on social media.

The photo, which captures him standing in front of Target holding a sign that reads, “Target Sues Stabbing Victim HERO,” was taken to share his story with the public. He wants the world to know what has happened so his side of the story can be heard. “I figure if I come out here and let the public see what’s going on, I think I’ll get some help from the public,” Turner said.

According to Raw Story, Turner’s friend, Jobe Wright was allegedly stabbed in the shoulder outside of Target by a mentally ill, homeless man – later identified as Leon Walls, 41 – during what was said to be a random attack. However, the man’s attack didn’t end there.

Once Walls went inside the Pittsburgh-area store, Turner and his friends – Wright, the stabbing victim, Roland Smith, and Tyreek Walker – immediately followed in an effort to hold him until police arrived. But, unfortunately, he’d already grabbed a 16-year-old girl named Allison Meadows. Initially, he’d only issued a verbal threat, but things took a turn for the worse when he allegedly stabbed the young girl twice.

During a recent interview with CBS Pittsburgh, Turner shared details about the circumstances that led to the girl’s stabbing inside the department store back in March of 2013. “We were looking for him so I could call the police on him, because he stabbed my friend,” Turner explained. “That’s why we were trying to catch this guy, because he stabbed someone for no reason.”

“I entered Target, I run up the escalator, I make a right; that’s when I encountered Walls in the store…He grabbed a little girl. He didn’t stab her at that point. He was talking, saying… he was trying to get out the store, and Jobe told him, ‘You’re not going nowhere ’til the police come,'” Turner told the news station. “And that’s when he started saying, ‘Y’all think I’m playing, y’all think I’m playing. I’m not playing.’ And he stabbed her the first time. Then he stabs her again.”

Turner and his friends immediately attacked Walls to save the young girl from further injury. When the police deAlthough the girl’s family has commended Turner and his friends’ for intervening on Meadows’ behalf, Target is actually holding the four men accountable for the girl’s attack. They are being accused of endangering customers because they failed to resolve the previous altercation outside of the store.

However, Meadows’ family blames Target regardless of their attempt to place blame elsewhere. “We have sued Target because they failed to keep Allison safe. Suing Michael Turner is just Target’s way of trying to blame someone else for what happened under their own roof,” the family’s attorney said in a statement. “The family certainly doesn’t blame Mr. Turner and they are thankful that he was there that day.”

According to WPXI, Walls has been found guilty of the crime, and it has been confirmed that he is mentally ill. The retailer has only released one brief statement regarding the situation. “Target disputes Mr. Turner’s version of events. However, we cannot comment further because litigation is pending.” However, Target’s law firm refuses to provide specific details regarding the situation as it is currently in active litigation.

Do you agree that Turner and his friends are heroes? Does Target have a right to sue Michael Turner? Share your thoughts.

[Image via WPXI Screen Capture]

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