Alabama walmart bus stabbing leaves one dead, three injured after dispute

BESSEMER, AL – A 35-year-old Louisiana man is accused of killing one coworker and injuring three others in a stabbing aboard a charter bus parked at a Walmart during a Monday afternoon stop, according to police. The violence unfolded as dozens of workers traveled back from a music festival job, authorities said.

Pierre Eskew was taken into custody after the incident, which police say stemmed from an escalating dispute involving a female coworker who had rejected his romantic advances. The fatal victim was identified as 22-year-old Darryel Sutton.

Incident unfolded during Walmart stop

The group of approximately 40 security workers had been returning to Louisiana after working at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, when their bus stopped in Bessemer for a break. During that stop, investigators say Eskew attacked multiple colleagues with a knife.

“At approximately 1:13 p.m., Bessemer Police officers and Bessemer Fire Department personnel responded to reports of a disturbance on the bus,” Bessemer Police Department officials said in a statement posted to Facebook. “Upon arrival, officers discovered that four individuals had suffered stab wounds during an altercation. One victim sustained critical injuries and was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment. The remaining victims also received medical attention.”

Authorities later confirmed that Sutton died from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.

Dispute reportedly escalated over time

Bessemer Police Sgt. C. Selman told WBRC that the confrontation between Eskew and Sutton had been ongoing. “For several hours, possibly days,” Selman said, describing a dispute tied to a female coworker who had rejected Eskew.

Police said the victims and suspect were all employed as security personnel and had been traveling together at the time of the attack. The conditions of the three surviving victims were not immediately released.

After the incident, the remaining workers were transported back to Louisiana on a separate bus. The employer, Fess Security, declined to comment when contacted.

Investigators have not released additional details about potential charges or court proceedings as of Tuesday.

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