Walmart Employee, 18, Stabbed to Death, Suspect Allegedly Gave Black People in Store 'Dirty Looks'

The victim, Jason Jenkins, who was Black, was a high school student in Rockford, Ill.

<p>WTVO/YouTube</p> Rockford, Ill. Walmart

WTVO/YouTube

Rockford, Ill. Walmart

An Illinois man was charged with first-degree murder after fatally stabbing a Black Walmart employee, then shouting out a racial slur, police allege.

Timothy Carter, who is White, was arrested after police allege he stabbed 18-year-old Jason Jenkins on Sunday. According to the criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, a witness told police that she heard Carter yell a slur after the stabbing.

Another witness, who took video of the aftermath, told police she was shopping when she heard Jenkins screaming for help and saw Carter allegedly holding a silver knife, the complaint says.

Upon reviewing security footage, police allege that Carter took two knives from the store — a red hunting knife and a silver kitchen knife — and wandered around giving “all of the African-American people dirty looks,” the complaint states. Carter then approached Jenkins from behind with the knives concealed and stabbed him in the lower back, police allege in the complaint.

<p>Winnebago County Jail</p> Timothy Carter

Winnebago County Jail

Timothy Carter

Jenkins was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

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When police approached Carter after the incident, he allegedly said that he had first gone to a local mental health and addiction treatment center and told staff he planned to die by suicide and was subsequently transported to the hospital, according to the complaint. He then allegedly told an officer that he came to the store after being released from a hospital without receiving mental health treatment, the complaint says.

WTVO reported that Jenkins was a student at Auburn High School in Rockford.

“We’re devastated to learn that one of our associates has died following a violent attack inside our Rockford, IL store," Walmart said in a statement to PEOPLE. "We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and will continue providing our associates with the support they need. Actions like this are inexcusable, and we’re grateful to law enforcement for their swift action in arresting the presumed attacker. We’ll continue helping them in every possible way throughout their investigation.”

Carter has not yet entered a plea. It is not immediately clear if he has retained an attorney.

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Read the original article on People.