Valet Driver Almost Lost Job After Stopping Near-Fatal Stabbing Attack At GM Tech Center
WARREN (WWJ) - An employee at the General Motors Tech Center in Warren who was stabbed multiple times was allegedly attacked by her own daughter -- and the valet driver who used his legal gun to save the woman's life nearly got fired for stopping the attack.
The situation unfolded Wednesday morning when a 32-year-old woman entered the visitor lobby at the Vehicle Engineering Center and asked for 52-year-old Stephanie Kerr. According to reports, the woman is Kerr's daughter.
The women walked outside of the lobby and got into some kind of verbal dispute, during which the visitor pulled out a steak knife and violently stabbed Kerr several times in the neck, abdomen and back, according to Warren Mayor Jim Fouts.
Didarul "Paco" Sarder, a contracted valet driver and licensed gun holder, saw what was happening and rushed to the employee's aid. He pulled out his firearm and ordered the woman to drop the knife, then held her at gunpoint until police arrived and placed her under arrest.
Kerr was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery. She was last reported in stable condition.
After the incident, Sarder was escorted off the property by GM security officials, leading many to believe he lost his job -- but that's not exactly the case. Sarder told reporters he is still employed by the valet company, which is contracted by GM, but he is no longer allowed to work at the Tech Center because he violated their policy for carrying a gun on the property.
Many are calling Sarder a hero, including Kerr's family. Had he not stepped in, Kerr might not have survived, said Fouts.
"This valet driver, by having his concealed weapon — and I guess there's an argument that people should be able to have a concealed weapon — he was able to stop this violent act from reaching a very unfortunate end," Fouts told WWJ's Zahra Huber.
Police have not yet revealed a motive behind the stabbing attack, which remains under investigation. Officials say charges could come as early as Thursday.