Westminster police announced the arrest of 26-year-old Ryan Patrick Nichols tonight in the stabbing of an 80-year-old King Soopers employee at about 2:50 a.m. today.
Nichols was arrested at the Autumn Chase condos in Westminster this evening after a tip from the public, police said. He was allegedly loitering at the front doors of the Westminster supermarket before the attack.
When the employee walked by, the suspect said “Hi” and then stabbed him in the back, according to Wayne Read, an investigator with the Westminster Police Department.
All indications are that the attack was completely random and unprovoked, Read added.
“This is a senseless act of violence toward an 80-year-old man,” said Read.
The victim, Dean Withers, was arriving at work when he was attacked, according to his daughter-in-law, Jill Withers. She told 9News he is recovering.
“He’s probably one of the most caring, helpful individuals that I know. He would give the shirt off of his back to a complete stranger to help them out,” she told 9News.
“Most of his repeat customers at his store know him personally.”
* According to Read, the assailant had been loitering in the parking lot of the store at West 103rd Avenue and Federal Boulevard both Friday and Saturday nights.
