An Arizona woman, Allante Wallace, 34, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following a violent stabbing aboard a Valley Metro light rail train in Tempe. According to court documents, the incident occurred Feb. 12 on an eastbound train traveling near East Apache Boulevard and South Dorsey Lane. Police allege Wallace stabbed a 42-year-old woman at least 14 times with a steak knife during a confrontation that escalated from a verbal dispute into a physical fight.
The probable cause affidavit states that surveillance video captured the altercation. Witnesses reported seeing the two women arguing before the victim approached Wallace, who was seated, and stood over her. The video allegedly shows the victim pulling Wallace’s hair and engaging in a struggle. Police say Wallace then picked up a knife with a red handle from the train car floor and began stabbing the woman repeatedly at close range.
Graphic Injuries and Aftermath
Authorities allege Wallace stabbed the victim multiple times in the thighs, forearm, abdomen, armpit, breast, and jaw. Several of the wounds were reportedly inflicted while the victim was lying on her back in a defensive posture and Wallace was standing over her using an overhead stabbing motion. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries but survived after being hospitalized.
After the attack, police say Wallace returned to her seat, gathered a pizza box and a white backpack featuring the cartoon character Dexter from “Dexter’s Laboratory,” and exited the train while still holding the knife. The entire episode was reportedly recorded on interior surveillance cameras.
Self-Defense Claim and Court Proceedings
Following the incident, Wallace contacted a defense attorney and later turned herself in. Her attorney told police that she had been attacked and acted in self-defense before leaving the train in shock. During a recent court appearance, her lawyer reiterated that Wallace had “no other choice,” claiming that other passengers witnessed the fight but did not intervene.
Wallace was ordered held on a $350,000 bond. A future court date has not yet been publicly listed as the case moves forward.
