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NH Man Charged In Alleged Break Room Attack On Female Supermarket Co-Worker

EPPING, N.H. (CBS) – A supermarket clerk is accused of attacking a fellow employee in the break room.

20-year-old Samuel Woods is charged with several counts after a violent encounter at Market Basket in Epping, New Hampshire Wednesday evening.

Police say a 17-year-old girl was eating alone at a table when Woods suddenly jumped on her and began to punch and choke her.

"He choked her to the point where she went unconscious," said Epping Police Chief Michael Wallace. "He tried stabbing her with a plastic knife."

Woods would tell police he was ashamed for what he had done and so he tried to kill himself.

"After the assault Mr. Woods climbed to the second-floor balcony, leaped from the balcony head first on the concrete pad below him," said Wallace.

Both ended up with minor injuries.

According to court documents, Woods told police 'something evil came over him' and that he had no reason to attack her.

The two did not have any previous relationship.

"She doesn't know why he attacked her and the attack was done without any provocation," said Wallace.

There is surveillance video of the incident but police are not releasing it.

Woods also told police, "he had issues with women since he was young and has acted out violently before by attacking a teacher."

He has been arraigned and once a bed opens up at the state hospital he will be transferred for treatment.

Market Basket has not returned a call for a comment.

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