WARNING: The following account includes a detailed description of an assault.
After enduring five stab wounds while closing his Corner Brook video game store, Doug Payne managed to maintain a sense of humor to ease the tension during the harrowing incident on Monday.
Reflecting on the near-death experience, Payne acknowledged the gravity of the situation, recognizing how fortunate he was to have survived the attack without severe consequences.
“I was fully aware that time was running out. Everything was becoming darker and colder … I felt my strength fading,” Payne recounted.
“Considering the circumstances, I should not have made it. The blade narrowly missed hitting my artery. I was incredibly lucky,” he added.
Just days following the stabbing at Valley Mall, Payne courageously returned to his store, Downtown Entertainment, on Thursday.
Gregg Musakanda, aged 32, now faces charges of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, possession of a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, and wearing a disguise with malicious intent. Musakanda appeared in a Corner Brook court via video conference on Thursday.
During an interview with CBC News, Payne recounted the chilling events of the stabbing incident.
According to Payne, a man entered the store around 4:45 p.m. on Monday and engaged in a conversation about video games for approximately 15 minutes.
Payne noticed the man was heavily layered in clothes, with a black full-body covering, sunglasses, and leather combat gloves. Assuming it was related to a nearby Halloween store, Payne refrained from questioning the attire.
“There were no warning signs. As the situation progressed, it became increasingly unsettling,” Payne recalled. “I left some consoles on the counter, suspecting a possible theft. If he had asked, I would have given them to him.”
Feeling uneasy, Payne informed the man that the store was closing earlier than usual. However, the man refused to leave and made multiple phone calls in an attempt to summon someone to the store.
By 5:15 p.m., Payne turned off the lights to signal closing time. As he turned to address games knocked off a shelf, feigning busyness, he heard a distinct clicking noise behind him.
“I sensed something was wrong, but I had little time to react … Fortunately, the blade narrowly missed my artery and instead pierced deep, almost reaching my throat,” Payne recounted.
“He exclaimed, ‘Oh my God, your neck.’ His actions momentarily did not register,” Payne added.
I don’t believe I reacted appropriately; I should have intervened. However, I did what I could to survive.– Doug Payne
In the subsequent moments, Payne endured five stab wounds from a four-inch switchblade, penetrating his neck, shoulder, side, stomach, and lower back.
Strategically navigating through an aisle, Payne found himself blocked by the assailant at the exit. In a bold move, he decided to push through towards the door.
“I braced myself
