Shocked shoppers and workers have recalled the horrific scenes at a suburban shopping center after a Coles worker was allegedly stabbed in the back by a 13-year-old boy.
Mother-of-two Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, was stacking fridges at the Yamanto Central supermarket in Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane, shortly before 5.30pm on Monday when she was allegedly attacked from behind.
As she remains in critical condition in hospital fighting for her life, her alleged attacker, 13, was charged with attempted murder and taken into custody.
Police allege a knife from the store’s shelves was used in the attack before the boy fled the store. A short time later he was arrested by shoppers and security staff.
The knife was reportedly stabbed into Ms Campomayor Watt’s body with such force that it went all the way into the front of her abdomen, which was still embedded when she was rushed to hospital.
Izzy Harris witnessed the horrific aftermath of the alleged attack, which unfolded in front of dozens of customers and workers, including young children.
“I saw her (Ms Watt) walking out and the knife was sticking out of her back and there was blood everywhere,” Ms Harris told Seven News.
“There was a woman who came in, she was crying and she said to me, ‘Did you see what happened, I was standing in the middle of that aisle about to walk down with a child.’
Police lead away a 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing a Coles employee in the back on Monday
She also heard a little girl crying and asking, “Daddy, what happened to that woman?”
“I didn’t know what to say,” Ms. Harris said.
She also saw the alleged attacker attempt to flee the scene.
“He didn’t show any emotion or anything,” Ms. Harris said.
Steevie Cowdrey, who works at Mama Mac’s pastry shop in the mall, had just closed for the night when she heard women screaming.
“It was painful screaming, it was terrifying, very high pitched,” she said.
She told me Courier mail that the alleged attack took place ‘way too close to home’.
“The mall feels a bit somber, it’s very quiet today,” she said.
Police returned to the Coles supermarket where the alleged stabbing took place on Tuesday
Several police vehicles remained at the shopping center while forensic officers at Coles took photographs and searched the crime scene.
Suppose sushi worker Dshering Dema was working opposite Coles when she heard shouting and saw people running out of the store.
She found an injured Mrs Watt lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
“It was very scary, I came back and was shaking,” she said.
‘I feel very unsafe here now.’
Ms Campomayor Watt remained in critical but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery on Tuesday.
The teenager’s case was heard at Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday.
The boy did not appear in person and lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment so that a brief statement of evidence could be prepared.
There was no application for bail.
The teen was taken into custody to appear in court on February 25.
Yamanto Central (pictured) was evacuated on Monday as police launched an investigation
Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the alleged attack.
“This is an abhorrent crime that happened to an innocent 63-year-old woman doing her daily work in that mall, and this should not happen in society,” he said.
Police assured the community that there would be additional high-visibility patrols at Yamanto Central.
A Coles spokesperson expressed support for the injured worker and praised those who intervened.
“Our thoughts are with our store team member and their family… we are doing everything we can to provide them with support, as well as their colleagues who are receiving guidance during this difficult time,” a statement said.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli condemned the incident, calling it traumatic and reflective of a broader issue the state is grappling with.
“What has unfolded is something no Queenslander wants to see,” he said.
“There’s a sense of deja vu for the state and these are exactly the kind of incidents Queenslanders are fed up with.”
The Prime Minister marked further changes to youth justice legislation, following the ‘crime against adults and adult time’ laws passed in December, which did not provide for tougher penalties for attempted murder.
“I have already indicated that we are putting together a panel of experts to implement future changes,” he said.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles offered his condolences to the family of the worker who was ‘senselessly attacked’.
The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was fatally stabbed by a teenage boy in a shopping center car park.