Nicolas Francisco Martinez, 21, recently pled guilty to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a stabbing incident inside the Princeton Walmart. (Courtesy photo)

Nicolas Francisco Martinez, 21, recently pled guilty to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a stabbing incident inside the Princeton Walmart.

Martinez was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday, Feb. 6 after a plea deal. Without the plea bargain, the 21-year-old faced up to 20 years for the Second Degree felony charges.

Shoppers Frederick Oswald and McKinney Fire Department Battalion Chief George Cook were inside the Walmart on Hwy. 380 when Martinez attacked them.

Oswald, who was stabbed in the stomach, received aid from the McKinney Chief who had been stabbed in the neck by Martinez. Cook can be seen on video applying pressure to Oswald’s wound while holding his own neck and yelling for shoppers to get out of the store.

The day of the stabbing, police took Martinez into custody in a nearby field within minutes of the attack. Detectives later determined that Martinez did not know either victim. What caused him to lash out remains unclear, according to investigators.

Martinez must serve at least half of his sentence before he will become eligible for parole.

“This sentence sends a strong message that violent crime won’t be tolerated in Collin County,” District Attorney Greg Willis said.

By Wyndi Veigel • News Editor • [email protected]

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