What to Know
A Colorado man will spend decades in prison for a crime spree that included stabbing a little boy at Walmart who was picking out a piece of candy. On January 26, 2025, Luke Barkhaus stabbed three people in random attacks at businesses in the city of Parker.
A restaurant worker, a Dollar Tree employee, and a 7-year-old boy shopping with his mom at Walmart all suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Parker fled the area following the attacks, and police ultimately caught up with him in Aurora. A judge recently sentenced him to 40 years in prison for the senseless acts of violence.
Barkhaus reportedly stabbed his victims to feel a rush.
According to court documents obtained by KMGH, Barkhaus stabbed his three victims and fled the area. A license plate reader helped trace the crimes to him, and police caught up with him two days later.
He reportedly admitted to law enforcement that he attacked the victims “for the rush.” He stabbed his first victim near the eye and his other two victims in the back of the head. Barkhaus told police he’d purchased the knife days before the attack and “would have continued to do it” if police hadn’t caught him.
Barkhaus reportedly tried to blame the violent attacks on mental health struggles.
Per a release from the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Barkhous has a rap sheet of violent crimes and attempted to blame the attacks on a history of huffing. Neither police nor prosecutors accepted the excuse.
Parker Police Chief Jim Tsurapas thanked his officers for locating Barkhous and keeping the community safe from the violent criminal.
“These senseless and unprovoked attacks placed innocent people, including a child, in grave danger,” Tsurapas said. “This sentence holds Barkhaus accountable and ensures he can no longer threaten the safety of our community. I commend our detectives, along with our law enforcement partners, for their tireless work to identify, apprehend, and bring this dangerous offender to justice.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Raible said Barkhaus intentionally terrorized the community. “I’m hopeful that an extended stay in the Department of Corrections will give the defendant an opportunity to address the issues that contributed to his criminal behavior and give the victims time to heal,” she shared.
Barkhaus will be in prison for many years.
Barkhaus ultimately pleaded guilty to child abuse and first-degree assault charges. A judge sentenced him to 40 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. District Attorney George Brauchler commended the judge’s sentence and shared that it takes a clear stance on violence in the area.
“This malevolent menace said that he stabbed those innocent victims because he wanted to see what it was like to do it. And then he blamed his evil actions on years of “huffing,” Brauchler shared. “There is no fixing someone like this. There is only protecting our community from him. This is why we build prisons.”
The court did not name Barkhaus’ victims, but according to Law & Crime, all three recovered from their injuries.
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