John Jefferson
Background: Jimmy John’s restaurant on Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh, Penn. (Google Maps). Inset (top): Tyree Blue-Murphy (Allegheny County Jail). Inset (bottom): Damon Robinson (Allegheny County Jail).
A Pennsylvania man was hospitalized in critical condition after a fight over letting one of his alleged attackers — a co-worker — pet his service dog.
The unnamed victim was working at a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in Pittsburgh when one of his co-workers, Tyree Blue-Murphy, 33, asked to pet his service dog. The conversation reportedly erupted into an argument that turned physical, with Blue-Murphy and a second co-worker, Damon Robinson, 31, allegedly attacking the employee and beating him so severely that he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Both Blue-Murphy and Robinson face felony assault charges and are now in custody at the Allegheny County Jail where they are being held without bail.
A statement on the City of Pittsburgh site said that police responded to reports of a fight at the Jimmy John’s. When they arrived, they found the victim “assaulted and severely beaten” and he was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. According to Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA, he was beaten, kicked, and stomped as well as struck with a bicycle tire.
It was initially Blue-Murphy who asked to pet the dog, but he claimed that the victim allegedly grabbed his dreadlocks, which was when the altercation turned physical, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Pittsburgh NBC affiliate WPXI. Robinson then reportedly stepped in to break up the fight but was allegedly also hit by the victim, so he told police that he responded by hitting the victim.
Surveillance cameras obtained by police allegedly showed Blue-Murphy and Robinson carrying out the attack on the victim while he was already down on the ground.
Blue-Murphy and Robinson were found by police near the store, allegedly with blood on their clothes. They were arrested and held without bail.
Both men face felony charges of aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy. They are both scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30.
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