EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 An El Paso man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he chased shoppers through a shopping mall while armed with a kitchen knife, prompting one shopper to draw a concealed handgun, according to court documents. <\/p>\n
The El Paso Police Department arrested 41-year-old Joseph Yvan Rechy last week. It charged him with six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of terroristic threat causing fear of imminent serious bodily injury after police received a report of a person with a knife at the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso. <\/p>\n
According to complaint affidavits obtained by KFOX14\/CBS4, police were dispatched to the shopping center at approximately 1:55 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of a man running after people with a knife and attempting to stab them. Court records state that approximately seven callers reported similar information.<\/p>\n
When officers arrived, the suspect, later identified as Rechy, was detained near the Puma and Old Navy stores. <\/p>\n
Investigators reported finding a silver kitchen knife approximately 6\u20138 inches long inside Rechy’s backpack. <\/p>\n
According to the affidavits, when asked about the knife, Rechy allegedly told officers, “I threatened people with it.”<\/p>\n
Court documents state one witness told police he was walking with a companion when he saw Rechy approach while holding a kitchen knife. The witness said Rechy ran toward him, causing him to pull his companion away and draw his concealed Glock 19X handgun. <\/p>\n
According to the affidavit, the witness pointed the firearm toward Rechy, who then turned and ran toward another group of people.<\/p>\n
Several victims told investigators they observed Rechy swinging a metal kitchen knife while moving toward them.<\/p>\n
Another witness told police Rechy came within approximately three feet of him while holding a knife. <\/p>\n
According to court documents, the witness reported hearing Rechy say, “Imma kill everybody” and “I’m going to stab everyone.” The witness stated he feared he was going to die and warned another shopper to get away.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another witness told investigators she was “scared and terrified” as Rechy approached. She said she ran away, fell to the ground, and suffered scrapes to her elbow. <\/p>\n
Prosecutors later charged Rechy with terroristic threat causing fear of imminent serious bodily injury in connection with these allegations.<\/p>\n
Other complainants included three other people, all of whom reported fearing for their lives as Rechy allegedly approached them while armed with a knife.<\/p>\n
The affidavits also describe an incident involving a woman and her one-year-old son. According to court records, the woman was carrying the child when she was warned to flee. <\/p>\n
Investigators say she tripped and fell while running away from Rechy, suffering scrapes to her knees, an elbow injury, and a head injury. Authorities also filed an aggravated assault charge involving the child.<\/p>\n
Police records indicate that witnesses repeatedly described Rechy moving from one group of shoppers to another while brandishing a knife. Investigators allege he eventually threw the knife to the ground and sat on a bench after noticing a person following him with a firearm.<\/p>\n
All of the complainants told police they wished to pursue charges. Authorities filed six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of terroristic threat causing fear of imminent serious bodily injury.<\/p>\n
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