Woman stabbed while shopping at Goodwill

A woman was stabbed as she shopped inside the Goodwill outlet store at 1406 E. Front Ave. Wednesday night.

The woman told police that as she shopped just after 6 p.m. she was approached by a man she didn’t know. He reportedly told her “I’m sorry” before stabbing her in the back, according to court documents. She told police she tried to fight back but ended up on the ground.

Multiple witnesses saw the attack and said the man, identified as 25-year-old Martin L. Burnell, dropped a large knife into a plastic bin as he calmly walked out of the store. One witness said he recognized Burnell as a regular at the Union Gospel Mission, according to court documents.

The woman was stabbed twice. The wounds are not considered life threatening, according to police.

Burnell was found sitting on the steps of a closed business at Trent and Helena smoking a cigarette. He had blood on his hands and had a homemade knife sheath that fit the knife found inside the store, court documents said.

Burnell is facing a charge of first-degree assault and is being held in the Spokane County Jail on $300,000 bond.