Orlando, FL – A violent stabbing outside the Mall at Millenia on Monday night was stopped in its tracks by an armed citizen who drew his concealed firearm, likely saving a woman’s life. Orlando Police say the suspect, 41-year-old Alinton John, fled the scene after being confronted at gunpoint. He was later arrested after a brief foot chase in Longwood.
At around 10:40 p.m. on July 8th, Orlando Police officers responded to reports of a stabbing in the parking lot near Water Garden Drive and Conroy Road—just outside the Mall at Millenia. When officers arrived, they found a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds to her back, stomach, neck, shoulder, thigh, and chest.
She was immediately transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center and is now in stable condition. The extent of her injuries was described by officers as “multiple lacerations” across her body, but thanks to fast medical response—and a brave armed witness—her life was spared.
Armed Citizen Steps In
According to police reports, witnesses described seeing the victim running from a red Tesla while being chased and repeatedly stabbed by a man later identified as John. One of the bystanders on scene—a legal concealed carrier—drew his pistol, chambered a round, and pointed it at the attacker. He ordered John to back away from the woman.
June 23, 2025: At an Orlando mall, an armed bystander successfully intervened to stop an act of domestic violence, drawing his gun on a knife-wielding man who was assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The assailant fled once the bystander confronted him. https://t.co/CKY3JulSW2
— Defensive Gun Use Tracker (@DailyDGU) June 27, 2025
The armed citizen’s actions worked. John stopped the assault and fled the scene in his Tesla. “The problem is with her, not you,” John reportedly told the armed witness before driving away. Multiple people at the scene immediately rendered aid to the victim while others called police.
Following a search, authorities tracked John down the next day at a Wawa gas station in Longwood. He attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement.
He was booked into the Seminole County Jail and is currently being held without bond. John is facing multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest without violence.
Police believe John and the victim were previously in a dating relationship that had turned violent. They met in the mall parking lot shortly before the attack occurred. Surveillance footage confirms the two sitting in the Tesla before the woman suddenly fled the car, covered in stab wounds and screaming for help.
Unless it was a cowboy single action, (), there’s absolutely no reason to have to chamber a round before engaging. That could be the difference in living or dying if your the one being attacked.
One has to wonder at the quality of the bystander’s training: Why wasn’t a round already chambered, so the pistol would be ready for use if needed?
“…drew his pistol, chambered a round…”
Already dead if the knife attacker had turned on him.
There is no bigger fan of dead criminal stories than I, but last night I looked into the criminal histories of both the perp and the victim. I think the armed bystander did the right thing by limiting his involvement with these two.
I Don’t know WTF Orlando was Thinking to Put the Millennial Mall in the Center of One of the Many Hood’s in Orlando? You have Americana Blvd. John Young Parkway, and Metro West… Anyone Going Shopping at This Mall, that Isn’t Armed is Taking Their Life in Their Own Hand’s!!!
I’d Rather have a Colonoscopy from Freddie Kruger, than Shop at This Mall.
why did this idiot not shoot this bum dead now we have to feed him and pay for lawyers
“You can take them out of the jungle but you can’t take the jungle out of them!”
The Hippybiker
Here is proof that armed citizens are what we need. Stopped the attacker in his tracks and unfortunately not a shot fired.
Now the legal system has to deal with him and our tax dollars will be wasted. One shot could have made everyone’s day and did so for years to come because the threat would have been eliminated forever.
A legally armed bystander didn’t go looking for a fight—he stopped one. His quick, courageous action likely prevented a homicide that night
Call me cynical, but I’d bet $100 she didn’t even thank the guy who saved her. She was entitled to that rescue, don’cha know ….
IMOA, the guy decided not to carry with a chambered round in his gun, that said, each person has that decision and its theirs alone. It’s not difficult to chamber a round from draw and transitioning to presenting the weapon to target and fire a round. Test the theory by making a safe weapon and fill a mag with snap caps and see for yourself. Also give it a try on a live fire range as well. No matter how you decide to carry, practice, practice and practice some more.