No good deed goes unpunished -- for example, you could let a panhandler borrow your cell phone, only to have him stab your friend in the neck almost immediately afterwards, which is apparently what happened to a Phoenix man last weekend.
According to court records obtained by New Times, a woman and male her friend were walking in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 3102 East Paradise Lane in Phoenix on Sunday night when they were approached by a man the two later identified as Sean Eddings.
Eddings, the two told police, asked if he could borrow a cell phone. The female victim handed over her phone voluntarily, and Eddings made three calls before giving it back to her.
He then began to walk away, but turned around to ask if the two had any
money he could have for a pay phone. When the female victim pulled out
her purse to get him some change, Eddings pulled out a knife and stabbed
her friend in the neck. He then demanded the female victim hand over
her wallet and car keys, which she did immediately.
Eddings then tried to start a car in the parking lot that he apparently
believed belonged to the victim. He failed to start the car and fled the
scene on foot.
The male victim was taken to a nearby trauma center in life-threatening
condition. The laceration to his neck had caused severe damage to his
esophagus. Surgeons, however, were able to save the man's life.
On Wednesday, Phoenix police received an anonymous tip from someone who
said they knew the identity of the attacker. The tipster also told
police he knew where the man lived.
Following the informant's call, police were able to identify Eddings as a
person of interest. He was identified in a photo lineup by each of the
victims, one of whom identified him "immediately."
Eddings was taken into custody about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. He told police
he was in the area of the stabbing panhandling, but claims he didn't
stab anyone. He later confessed that he had been in a fight with the
victims, but maintains that he never stabbed anyone.
Eddings, who police describe as an "extremely violent" drug addict was
booked on one count each of attempted first-degree murder and armed
robbery.