WASHINGTON – A man who allegedly stabbed another man at a Maryland post office because he thought the victim had cut the line has been charged with attempted murder.

He is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Shortly after 2 p.m. on Thursday, a post office clerk instructed a 58-year-old patron who had waited in line that his paperwork was not complete and that he should step aside, fill out his forms, then return to the desk, says Paul Starks, spokesman with the Montgomery County Police Department.

The patron did so, and returned to the clerk’s desk to finish his transaction.

“This is when we believe the suspect had the perception that the victim was cutting in line at the post office,” Starks says.

When the man left, 67-year-old Ray Young approached him in the vestibule between the building’s two entrance doors and began stabbing him with 4-inch knife.

Two female postal workers came to the victim’s aid, one with pepper spray, and ended the attack.

“They sprayed as they attempted to intervene,” Starks says. “Their actions very well might have saved the victim’s life, and at least prevented him from further injury.”

Young left the scene, but was stopped by an officer about 1 mile from the post office.

The victim, who has not been identified, was taken to a hospital where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was conscious and alert and provided police a description of the suspect.

“This is very rare,” Starks says. “This doesn’t happen often at all.”

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