Police: Customer accused in Golden Corral worker's stabbing in Ohio

SANDUSKY, Ohio — A customer is accused in the fatal stabbing of a restaurant employee outside the business after the two had argued earlier, police in Ohio said Monday.

Perkins Township officers were called Sunday night to a Golden Corral on reports of a stabbing, police Chief Robb Parthemore said in a release Monday. Witness statements indicated restaurant employee Cevin Stanley and a customer got into an argument inside the restaurant and fellow employees took Stanley outside to prevent the argument from escalating, police said.

Witnesses said the customer followed and stabbed Stanley before leaving, according to police.

BCI and the Erie County Sheriff's Office are investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred Sunday evening at a Golden Corral in Sandusky. https://t.co/d9uEz59IiK

— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) December 9, 2019

Stanley, 32, of Sandusky, was able to walk back inside the restaurant, where he collapsed and later died at the scene, police said.

Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification was called to help process the crime scene as the investigation continued. Police were continuing their search for the customer.

Puckett’s Corral LLC, a Golden Corral Franchise, issued a statement Monday saying it is “deeply saddened” by the employee’s death and is cooperating fully with the police investigation. The restaurant is closed temporarily, while employees are provided with grief counseling and support, according to the statement.