AUSTIN, Texas — A 69-year-old man has been charged following a stabbing at an LA Fitness in North Austin.
According to an affidavit obtained by KVUE, John Makinson was arrested behind the gym after allegedly stabbing a man Friday morning at the location on West Anderson Lane, near Burnet Road.
Following the incident, the victim told detectives he was waiting to use the leg press when Makinson told him to find something else to do. After Makinson finished, he walked to the locker room area, which led the victim to use the leg press.
According to the affidavit, when the victim finished his workout, he and Makinson walked past each other near the locker room area when Makinson started yelling. That's when Makinson allegedly stabbed the victim in the buttocks. The victim told police Makinson then chased him through the gym while he was bleeding, stating Makinson was holding a 4- to 6-inch knife in the air.
The affidavit states people gathered around the victim to protect him from Makinson when he started yelling at them, "Who else wants some?" Police later found Makinson behind the gym where he allegedly told an officer, "I just got out of prison for this." Records show Makinson was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for another stabbing in Austin in 2011, before being paroled in 2021.
Following the investigation, Makinson was charged again with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Meanwhile, police said the victim was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center where he required 500 milliliters of blood immediately. The affidavit states that the victim suffered a stab wound about 3 to 4 inches deep that required four staples to close.