Inset: Matthew Miner (Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office). Background: The Publix supermarket in Weaverville, N.C., where Matthew Miner unexpectedly attacked and injured his former girlfriend last year (Google Maps).

A man from North Carolina is facing a prison sentence after ambushing his former partner at a Publix supermarket, where he stabbed her with a “folding-blade” knife as she was trying to leave. A store manager, reacting to “her screams,” intervened in time to save her life, according to prosecutors.

The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office detailed in a press release Tuesday that the victim recounted how Miner showed up unexpectedly while she was shopping and followed her to her car. This information was released following the announcement of Matthew Miner’s prison term for the 2024 incident involving the attack.

The 63-year-old received a sentence of 12 to 15 years for his attempt to murder his ex-girlfriend, whose identity has not been disclosed publicly. The assault took place in the parking lot of a Publix in Weaverville while she tried to get into her car and leave, using a “folding-blade knife,” as stated by prosecutors.

Miner admitted to charges of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. During the investigation, he expressed a motive to harm her “as much as she was hurting him,” per the DA’s office, following their breakup.

The office reported that “the victim was discovered in the store with multiple stab wounds after being assaulted.” They also mentioned that Miner retrieved the knife from his truck before launching the attack on the woman.

“She fought back but was prevented from escaping by Miner until a store manager intervened after hearing her screams,” prosecutors recounted. “Miner then fled the scene but was later apprehended at his home, where a folding-blade knife and the victim’s phone were found.”

Police wrote in Miner’s arrest warrants that he went after his ex with “the intent to kill” and inflict serious harm. He also tried kidnapping the woman “for the purpose of doing serious bodily injury” to her before the Publix employee stepped in, the warrants say.