3 Hurt in East Texas Wal-Mart Hatchet Attack

Motive sought in Sunday morning attack

Three people were wounded Sunday in a hatchet attack at a Wal-Mart in East Texas and police arrested a transient on assault charges.

Marshall police on Monday said two female workers and a male shopper were hurt. One employee remains hospitalized.

Detective Sonya Johnson said police are seeking a motive in Sunday morning's attack. Johnson said Christopher Hamilton of Crawford, Ark., allegedly had the hatchet with him when entering the store and he doesn't know the victims.

Their names and details on their conditions weren't released.

Harrison County jail records show Hamilton was being held Monday on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Bond is $225,000 for Hamilton, who was caught in some nearby woods. No attorney was listed for him.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. didn't immediately comment.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story from the Associated Press incorrectly identified the county as Harris instead of Harrison.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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