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Shopping Continues After Woman Is Killed In Walmart

Avery Blandin Is Charged With Murder

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Shopping Continues After Woman Is Killed In Walmart
Avery Blandin Is Charged With Murder
After a woman was stabbed to death in a Walmart over the weekend, the store has experienced criticism from some for staying open following the fatal attack.Deputies said they were called to the Walmart on White Horse Road in Berea at 1:21 p.m. about a physical altercation at the store.Witnesses told deputies a man and a woman got into a fight and that the man stabbed the woman and fled.The woman, now identified as 38-year-old Lilia Blandin, was found with injuries and taken to the hospital where she died, according to the coroner.The coroner said Blandin was an employee of Woodforest Bank inside the Walmart store, and was working at the time of the incident.On Sunday, Master Deputy Jennings Autrey said the victim's husband, Avery Blandin, was under guard at Greenville Memorial Hospital and was charged with murder.Autrey said Blandin drove away from the scene but wrecked his car at the corner of Agnew Road and Marion Road before being arrested Saturday afternoon.The couple had a history of violence, according to police records. On Oct. 30, Avery Blandin was charged with criminal domestic violence. According to the warrant, Lilia Blandin told deputies that her husband punched her in the mouth and stomach after accusing her of cheating. Deputies said she had a swollen upper lip. The warrant says Lilia Blandin told deputies that she had not reported numerous other times that her husband had hit her because she feared for her safety and the safety of her children.The Blandin family released this statement: "Words cannot express how deeply sorry we are for what took place at Wood Forest Banking inside Walmart. We apologize to its employees, customers, and all the people in our community affected by such a tragic moment. As a family we are left asking “why”, but know the answer may never be known. During this difficult time, we thank the community for their kind words and support. The families, of our much-loved Lilia and Avery, would like to ask for privacy as we deal the events of last weekend. Once again, we apologize with great sincerity."Customers Shocked By Attack Several customers were appalled that Walmart stayed open for business through the stabbing and the aftermath."I saw there was blood everywhere, on the ground, on the table, on the wall," said Brittany King, a shopper who arrived shortly after the stabbing. "It's disrespectful to the family that it happened to. Especially the people and the employees who saw it happen.""From what I can see, they never really gave (the employees) that opportunity to recuperate," said Bob Quarles, who said he walked into the store just as the attack happened.Master Deputy Jennings Autrey said the decision to stay open was up to the management at the store."The shoppers are not affecting the crime scene," Autrey said. "I just want to be clear on that, that it has been roped off and deputies are there protecting the integrity of the crime scene."Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee told News 4," We did, as requested, close our grocery checkout area to allow the police to do their work and provide some level of privacy, given the circumstances.""This was a senseless act of violence, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family during this difficult time," Gee said.Gee said Walmart was assisting investigators with the investigation and that it turned over surveillance video from the store.

After a woman was stabbed to death in a Walmart over the weekend, the store has experienced criticism from some for staying open following the fatal attack.

Deputies said they were called to the Walmart on White Horse Road in Berea at 1:21 p.m. about a physical altercation at the store.

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Witnesses told deputies a man and a woman got into a fight and that the man stabbed the woman and fled.

The woman, now identified as 38-year-old Lilia Blandin, was found with injuries and taken to the hospital where she died, according to the coroner.

The coroner said Blandin was an employee of Woodforest Bank inside the Walmart store, and was working at the time of the incident.

On Sunday, Master Deputy Jennings Autrey said the victim's husband, Avery Blandin, was under guard at Greenville Memorial Hospital and was charged with murder.

Autrey said Blandin drove away from the scene but wrecked his car at the corner of Agnew Road and Marion Road before being arrested Saturday afternoon.

The couple had a history of violence, according to police records. On Oct. 30, Avery Blandin was charged with criminal domestic violence. According to the warrant, Lilia Blandin told deputies that her husband punched her in the mouth and stomach after accusing her of cheating. Deputies said she had a swollen upper lip. The warrant says Lilia Blandin told deputies that she had not reported numerous other times that her husband had hit her because she feared for her safety and the safety of her children.

The Blandin family released this statement: "Words cannot express how deeply sorry we are for what took place at Wood Forest Banking inside Walmart. We apologize to its employees, customers, and all the people in our community affected by such a tragic moment. As a family we are left asking “why”, but know the answer may never be known. During this difficult time, we thank the community for their kind words and support. The families, of our much-loved Lilia and Avery, would like to ask for privacy as we deal the events of last weekend. Once again, we apologize with great sincerity."

Customers Shocked By Attack

Several customers were appalled that Walmart stayed open for business through the stabbing and the aftermath.

"I saw there was blood everywhere, on the ground, on the table, on the wall," said Brittany King, a shopper who arrived shortly after the stabbing. "It's disrespectful to the family that it happened to. Especially the people and the employees who saw it happen."

"From what I can see, they never really gave (the employees) that opportunity to recuperate," said Bob Quarles, who said he walked into the store just as the attack happened.

Master Deputy Jennings Autrey said the decision to stay open was up to the management at the store.

"The shoppers are not affecting the crime scene," Autrey said. "I just want to be clear on that, that it has been roped off and deputies are there protecting the integrity of the crime scene."

Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee told News 4," We did, as requested, close our grocery checkout area to allow the police to do their work and provide some level of privacy, given the circumstances."

"This was a senseless act of violence, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family during this difficult time," Gee said.

Gee said Walmart was assisting investigators with the investigation and that it turned over surveillance video from the store.