People stabbed at Oxford McDonald's, Walmart and office building; suspect in custody

The Oxford Police Department confirmed the suspect, Myliek Hykeem Webb, was taken into custody around 9 a.m.

Granville County Sheriff Robert Fountain said the first stabbing happened at 8:30 a.m. at the county administration building at 104 Belle St.

"People were just arriving here at the offices this morning, and one of our employees was assaulted as he got out of his car and was bringing things into the office," said Drew Cummings, a Granville County administrator.

The sheriff said approximately 10 minutes later, another person was stabbed at the entrance to a McDonald's at 115 Granville Corners in Oxford. During a Monday press conference, Fountain said the victim was lying at the entrance door and McDonald's customers stepped in to help.

"Once we got there some of my staff were rendering aid and assistance to him," Fountain said. "Some of the patrons were in there assisting and responding to his needs."

The sheriff said a third person was stabbed at 8:55 a.m. in the parking lot at the Walmart at 1015 Lewis St.

The Granville County employee was in stable condition Monday afternoon and surrounded by family, the county said. Police said the other victims were hospitalized in stable condition.

Fountain said multiple law enforcement agencies chased the suspect's vehicle, a gold car with no plates, on Interstate 85 before he was taken into custody. It was not a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 75 or 80 mph, the sheriff said.

Officers ended up using stop sticks to stop the suspect, who lost control of the car on the interstate and was handcuffed and taken to the Granville County Sheriff's Office.

The motive behind the attacks was unclear, but the sheriff said it may be mental health-related.

"This individual I don't think is on anybody's radar for that kind of attack," Fountain said. "Like I said, sometimes mental health may play a part in it, and that's what we're going to do is look at it from that perspective as well."

Oxford's police chief confirmed Webb was arrested a month earlier outside the magistrate's office in Oxford on charges of first-degree trespassing and injury to personal property. Those charges are pending.

Law enforcement from Butner, Oxford and Stem joined the Granville County Sheriff's Office and State Highway Patrol in their search for Webb, who was arrested shortly after 9 a.m.

Webb was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Authorities said more charges are pending as the investigation proceeds.

His bond was set at $3 million.

The city of Oxford said Webb likely acted alone, and there was no further threat to citizens.

"Our hearts go out to the victims and their families and this community," Fountain said. "Any act of violence is serious for us and we're going to continue to protect and serve this community at all costs ... hopefully everybody survives this incident."