SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A civilian pharmacist at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to murder his supervisor with a knife and stabbing him multiple times.
Robert E. Sapp, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole.
On May 1, 2023, Sapp pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit murder.
Sapp was working at a dispensing window at the Post Exchange Pharmacy at Fort Leonard Wood on Dec. 3, 2021, when he was approached by the supervisory pharmacist who suggested they have a conversation in another area of the pharmacy. Video footage depicts Sapp reaching into his front right pocket, pulling out a knife, and opening the blade. Sapp held the knife behind his back as he approached the supervisor in another area of the pharmacy. Sapp lunged toward the supervisor with the knife, knocked him to the ground, and continued stabbing at his face and head. Another pharmacy employee interrupted the attack. Sapp put the knife in his pocket and left the pharmacy.
Military Police Service activated an installation shut down, and Sapp was detained while attempting to leave in his vehicle. An MP who arrested Sapp after extracting him from his vehicle found a knife, which had hair and blood on it, in his pocket. There was blood on Sapp’s clothing. The vehicle also had blood on the interior of the driver’s side door.
The victim of the stabbing was transported to the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. Medical personal reported he had multiple stab wounds, including at least two stab wounds to his head.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.