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Concealed carry to the rescue…Again.

Rachel Stoltzfoos Staff Reporter
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A Detroit man stabbed a Home Depot employee with a syringe at least five times Monday night before a customer pulled out a handgun and told him to drop the needle.

Joshua J. Silva, 26, pulled out the contaminated syringe and began swinging it around in a slashing motion to avoid apprehension by a loss prevention officer, who suspected him of stuffing a $179 drill under his coat, reports The Detroit Free Press.

An anonymous customer with a concealed pistol license saw the fight, pulled out his handgun and told Silva to drop the syringe and get on the ground, police said. Silva then sat down in the parking lot, until he heard approaching police sirens. He attempted to run, but was arrested without further incident.

Police Chief James Berlin told The Detroit Free Press the victim had more than five puncture wounds on his hand. He also said it’s uncommon for people to use syringes as weapons.

Silva claimed he is addicted to heroin, but is not believed to have been using the drug when the incident occurred, Berlin told The Detroit Free Press. He said the syringe will be tested by Michigan State Police later today for signs of communicable disease.

The victim was treated at a local hospital. He and the customer involved told The Detroit Free Press they aren’t interested in media interviews.

Silva is being held on $25,000 bond after being arraigned today on second-degree retail fraud, a one-year misdemeanor, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, a 10-year felony. He pled not guilty.