A Florida man is facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon following an unprovoked attack on a woman in a Walgreens parking lot. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office reported that the man stabbed the woman twice in the back, stating his motivation was simply because he “wanted to.”
The incident took place around 2 p.m. on November 26. The accused, 34-year-old Kenneth Bryan, approached the woman in the parking lot of a Naples Walgreens. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, attempted to evade Bryan by quickly walking to her car. However, Bryan managed to reach her and stabbed her twice in the back. The woman also sustained a “dark, red serration mark” on her right bicep, according to the arrest affidavit.
Initially, the woman believed she was being punched. It wasn’t until she noticed blood from the first wound that she realized she had been stabbed. Despite the severity of her injuries, the woman declined hospital treatment, opting instead to be treated at the scene.
When questioned by deputies about his motive for the attack, Bryan’s response was chillingly nonchalant. He simply stated, “Because I wanted to.” Deputies recovered a broken, serrated knife at the scene, believed to be the weapon used in the attack.
Bryan’s criminal history is extensive, with charges dating back several years. In 2014, he was charged with battery for touching and striking another person against their will. In 2021, he faced charges of battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Earlier this year, Bryan was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency services technician, as well as resisting an officer with violence.
The incident was reported to law enforcement by a Walgreens employee. According to the deputies, store employees were familiar with Bryan and aware of his autism. Bryan is currently detained at the Naples Jail Center, with his bond revoked. He is scheduled to appear in court in Collier County on December 18 to face the latest charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.