On January 28, 2024, around 5:34 PM, law enforcement responded to a disturbance at Rite Aid in Fort Bragg, California, involving a knife-wielding assailant. Kenneth Jenkins, a 66-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio, was subdued by bystanders after allegedly assaulting two individuals and stabbing another during a confrontation related to a dispute over a dog.
The altercation escalated from a verbal argument to a physical confrontation, resulting in a male victim sustaining a chest stab wound and a finger laceration, while a female victim suffered lacerations to her hands.
Bystanders rushed to aid the victims, with one reporting that Jenkins swung the knife at him during the intervention. The injured parties were transported to Adventist Mendocino Coast Hospital, treated, and later released. Jenkins, complaining of pain from injuries incurred during the incident, was arrested and booked for attempted homicide and assault with a deadly weapon.
The following is the complete press release issued by the Fort Bragg Police Department. This has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On January 28, 2024 at approximately 5:34 PM, officers were dispatched to Rite Aid for a report of a fight involving two parties, one armed with a knife. It was also reported several bystanders were involved and attempting to separate the parties. Deputies from MCSO heard the radio traffic and immediately responded to assist.
Officers arrived and located Kenneth Jenkins, 66 years, of Cincinnati, Ohio, being subdued by bystanders. Both the adult victims and witnesses identified Jenkins as the assailant, and that he had reportedly assaulted two bystanders, and stabbed another party. Two victims with injuries were located on scene. It was determined an adult male victim had suffered a stab wound to the chest and a laceration to a finger, and an adult female had suffered lacerations on both hands. Jenkins was detained, and medical was summoned to treat the injured parties.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined Jenkins and the adult male victim had been involved in a verbal altercation over the victim’s dog and possible control violations. The verbal altercation became physical when Jenkins reportedly struck the victim in the chest with a knife, causing a puncture wound. Jenkins reportedly continued to try to strike the male victim with the knife while he attempted to restrain Jenkins. Hearing the altercation escalating, and the male victim’s calls for help, several bystanders ran to provide aid. While trying to subdue Jenkins, the female victim suffered lacerations to her hands, and a third victim reported Jenkins had swung the knife at him while trying to subdue him.
The stabbing victims were transported to the Adventist Mendocino Coast Hospital via ambulance for treatment. Both were later released after being treated.
Jenkins was arrested and transported via ambulance to the Adventist Mendocino Coast Hospital due to complaint of pain from injuries suffered in the altercation. After receiving a medical evaluation was transported and booked in the Mendocino County Jail for 664/187 PC – Attempt Homicide and 245(a)(4) PC – Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Sgt McLaughlin of the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707)961-2800 ext 210.
This information is being released by Chief Neil Cervenka. All media inquiries should contact him at ncervenka@fortbragg.com.
