NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A husband and wife have been charged after an employee was stabbed at a MOD Pizza near the Norfolk Premium Outlets Sunday, police said.
Norfolk police responded to MOD Pizza located at 1541 Premium Outlets Blvd. around 2:25 p.m. for the report of a stabbing.
When officers arrived, they found a 24-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment, and his injuries were considered to be non life-threatening.
Detectives have charged 45-year-old Catherine N. Harper and 47-year-old Corey T. Harper with malicious wounding. Corey Harper got an additional charge of brandishing a firearm. Both had their first court appearance Monday, and they will be back in court Jan. 14.
Court documents revealed that Catherine Harper got into an argument with the employee over what she thought was a “botched order.” Shortly afterwards, she called her husband, Corey Harper and asked him to “handle the situation.”
Once Corey Harper arrived to the location, he stabbed the employee multiple times, even cutting across his torso, exposing the employee’s intestines, according to the court document. At that point, the couple left the scene.
Based on what was in the court documents about the incident, the magistrate decided not to grant bond, and both Catherine and Corey Harper are being held in Norfolk City Jail.
A neighbor of the Harpers said they were surprised to learn about what happened, and said he’s always had congenial interactions with them, having loaned each other tools and garden equipment.
“I’m surprised,” said Wayne Sarapata, who lives a few houses down from the Harpers. “This is a quiet neighborhood, and we are all friends here. I would think that is out of character from what I know about them, but like I said, I know them as a neighbor.”
In a statement from MOD Pizza, it said it was “dismayed” to learn about the situation, and that it was cooperating with police.
We were dismayed to learn about an argument inside our Norfolk-area Lake Wright restaurant involving one of our employees and two guests. The altercation resulted in one of our MOD squad members being hospitalized and the arrest of one of the guests. Please understand this is an active investigation and we are cooperating with the local police. While our team member recuperates in the hospital, we are conducting our due diligence and will make a well-thought-out decision about this situation. MOD Pizza has zero tolerance for behavior that escalates conflicts, whether initiated by a guest or a team member.
Moments like these force organizations to re-examine employee training and look for ways to reinforce values and expectations. We are fully cooperating with the Norfolk Police Department in their investigation. Our top priority is creating a fun and inspiring place to work and a great place to eat.
— MOD Pizza
