‘At least I’m alive’: Shopper injured while intervening in deadly grocery store attack
By Maricela De La Cruz
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MARYSVILLE, California (KCRA) — A shopper who intervened in a fatal stabbing at a Marysville Save Mart is recovering from injuries sustained during the attack, which claimed the life of a store employee.
Longtime Marysville resident Robert Balderaz said he was inside the store picking up a few items when he heard someone screaming.
“I could hear him screaming, ‘Help me, help, help me.’ It’s all I heard,” Balderaz said.
Balderaz said he ran toward the commotion and saw someone attacking Douglas Lee Eid, a 64-year-old assistant manager at the store. He tackled the suspect, Samuel Hartbower, and tried to hold him down.
“I turned the corner and immediately tackled this guy onto the ground. Once I got him on the ground, I thought I had him. I’m a pretty big guy and I had him pretty much held down, I thought, and then all of a sudden, it almost felt like I was being shocked by something, so once I felt that I released him and jumped up,” Balderaz said.
Balderaz was injured during the struggle and said he eventually left the store and drove to a nearby hospital for treatment. He said he’s now on antibiotics as he battles an infection. He said he can’t elevate his arm.
“The outcome for me wasn’t good, but at least I’m alive,” Balderaz said.
Eid, who was from Clearlake, died at the scene.
The Yuba County District Attorney’s Office said the attack occurred after Eid asked Hartbower to leave the store.
Balderaz said the incident continues to affect him.
“I walked into the store today and I’m looking around waiting to… it does bother me,” Balderaz said.
Hartbower remains in custody at the Yuba County Jail without bail and faces murder and assault charges. Prosecutors said Hartbower has prior convictions for robbery and first-degree burglary. If those allegations are proven, they could trigger California’s three-strikes sentencing provisions.
If convicted, Hartbower could face a life sentence on each charge.
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