Inset: Kelvin Fuller (Collinsville (Ill.) Police Department). Background: The Walmart in Illinois where Kelvin Fuller stabbed his co-worker (KFVS).
An Illinois Walmart employee who dragged a knife across a co-worker's throat before stabbing her repeatedly behind a deli counter — believing she had "disrespected" him — is headed to prison for more than two decades.
Kelvin Fuller, 20, was handed a 25-year sentence this week after pleading guilty to attempted murder for the July 2025 attack at a Walmart Supercenter in Collinsville, according to the Madison County State's Attorney's Office.
Fuller attacked the victim and "repeatedly cut the co-worker with a knife" before customers and other employees intervened. Fuller fled the store and was taken into custody nearby.
"[Fuller] told police he attacked the co-worker because he felt that she had 'disrespected' him," the state's attorney's office said in a press release.
Fuller's co-worker was working behind the deli counter and talking to another employee when the attack unfolded around 2 p.m., according to court documents obtained by local NBC affiliate KSDK.
Fuller approached the victim from behind and dragged a knife across her neck before she pulled away. He then stabbed her approximately five times in the neck, arm, shoulder and back.
Video captured inside the store reportedly showed customers and fellow employees rushing to intervene as the victim ran for cover.
"When she broke free, [Fuller] indicated he was still looking for her, and would have kept going if he found her," the court documents say, according to KSDK.
The victim's injuries reportedly required multiple surgeries.
During questioning, Fuller admitted bringing a knife and black gloves to work, then putting them on before attacking the woman. He told investigators he felt the victim, a newer employee, had "disrespected" him during a shift.
"He admitted to putting the knife to the victim's neck and admitted he 'kept going after that,' estimating he stabbed her approximately five times," the documents stated. "He admitted that he did not think the victim could survive the stabbing he inflicted."
Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine said Tuesday after Fuller was sentenced that the actions of the people who intervened to help the victim made a difference.
"A workplace should be a place where people can do their jobs without fear of being attacked," Haine said. "The actions of the employees and customers who stepped in to stop this attack may have prevented an even greater tragedy. I commend them for their intervention, and I commend law enforcement and our prosecution team for ensuring that this offender was held accountable for this violent crime."