Guilty Plea in Hammer Attack at Rochester Grocery Store

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The man charged in connection to a hammer attack at Rochester grocery store this past summer has entered into a plea agreement with Olmsted County prosecutors.

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29-year-old Pedro Vasquez was charged with a count of felony second-degree assault and misdemeanor fifth-degree assault in July. He was accused of swinging a hammer at several shoppers that he appeared to have obtained from a back room at the store.

On Friday Vasquez entered a plea agreement in which he admitted to the felony assault count. In exchange the prosecution dropped the fifth-degree assault charge and will recommend a sentence that will keep Vasquez out of prison but could result in him serving jail time.

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The criminal complaint in the case accused Vasquez of swinging a hammer at Cub Foods shoppers in southeast Rochester on the night of July 5. Responding Rochester Police officers found the Rochester man being restrained by a shopper in the deli area when they arrived at the store.

Vasquez complaint. Olmsted County Court

At one point during the case an arrest warrant was issued for Vasquez after he failed to appear at a court hearing following his release without bail. He was re-arrested a short time later.

Vasquez is currently being held in the Olmsted County Jail on $20,000 bail without conditions. He is scheduled to be sentenced in March.