Marysville grocery store stabbing kills employee, seriously injures another man

A Save Mart employee was killed and another man was seriously injured in a stabbing at a Marysville grocery store Sunday afternoon, police said.

Marysville police confirmed Monday that the man who died worked at the Save Mart on J Street. He's been identified by authorities as Douglas Lee Eid, a 64-year-old Clearlake resident. 

Officers responded to the store a little after 2 p.m. Sunday and found a man being detained by people outside. Police said a weapon was recovered nearby.

Inside, officers found the employee who had been stabbed at least once. Bystanders and officers started first aid, but he died at the scene.

One of the people who intervened was Robert Balderaz, a Marysville resident who said he was shopping for snacks and cough drops for his sick wife when he heard people screaming for help.

Balderaz said he turned a corner and saw a Save Mart employee struggling with another man. He tried to intervene, grabbing the employee and taking the suspect to the ground.

During the struggle, Balderaz realized he had been stabbed in the arm with what he described as a knife-like weapon.

"It came out the other side on the back side of my arm is where the blood was shooting like he hit an artery and that's really what got me to get out of there and get to this hospital and not wait for an ambulance," Balderaz said.

Balderaz drove himself to the hospital, where his wife was already being treated. He said he is now dealing with significant pain and possible nerve and tendon damage, and he is unsure whether he will regain full use of his arm.

Despite his injuries, Balderaz said he does not regret stepping in to help. He also said he hopes his actions slowed the suspect down.

"Help if you can but you better observe first because some of these people who are doing this stuff are pretty dangerous," Balderaz said.

Police arrested 33-year-old Samuel Hartbower on suspicion of homicide and assault with a deadly weapon.

Investigators said they do not believe Hartbower and the employee knew each other before the stabbing. Police described the attack as an isolated incident and said there is no outstanding threat to the community.

Balderaz said the employee and the suspect were both strangers to him. He also recalled seeing another bystander tackle the suspect in the parking lot as he drove away to seek medical attention.

In a statement released Monday, Save Mart expressed their condolences to the slain employee's family and coworkers. 

"We are heartbroken by the senseless act of violence that took the life of our Save Mart Team Member at our Marysville store on Sunday afternoon," the company stated. 

Hartbower also had an active felony assault warrant from the Yuba City Police Department and was on post-release community supervision in Yuba County, police said.

On Tuesday, Hartbower made his first appearance in court and pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 4.