A heated argument over a service dog at a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ended with one man in the hospital in critical condition and two of his co-workers facing serious felony charges.
The victim, whose name hasn’t been made public, was working at the shop when his co-worker, 33-year-old Tyree Blue-Murphy, asked if he could pet the man’s service dog. What started as a simple question reportedly turned into a full-blown argument. Things escalated quickly, leading to a violent fight involving Blue-Murphy and another co-worker, 31-year-old Damon Robinson. Both men allegedly attacked their colleague so severely that he had to be rushed to the hospital.
When Pittsburgh police arrived at the scene, they found the victim badly beaten. According to an official statement from the City of Pittsburgh, the man was “assaulted and severely beaten” and was taken to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. Reports say the attackers not only punched and kicked the victim but also stomped on him and hit him with a bicycle tire.
Blue-Murphy claimed in a police report that the fight began because the victim allegedly grabbed his dreadlocks. That’s when things got physical. Robinson reportedly told investigators that he initially tried to stop the fight but got involved after the victim allegedly hit him. Robinson admitted to hitting back.
Surveillance footage obtained by the police reportedly shows Blue-Murphy and Robinson continuing to attack the victim while he was already on the ground. Authorities later found both suspects near the sandwich shop, allegedly with blood on their clothing. They were immediately taken into custody and are now being held without bail at the Allegheny County Jail.
Both Blue-Murphy and Robinson are facing serious charges, including aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy. They are scheduled to appear in court in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the victim remains hospitalized, recovering from his injuries.
