A Colorado man accused of slashing a 7-year-old child’s head during what prosecutors described as an “unprovoked” stabbing spree has been handed a decades-long prison sentence.
Luke Barkhaus pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and two counts of first-degree assault in connection with the January 2025 stabbings, according to the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Colorado.
He’s been sentenced to 40 years in prison, the office announced in a Monday, August 24 news release.
“This malevolent menace said that he stabbed those innocent victims because he wanted to see what it was like to do it,” District Attorney George Brauchler, of the 23rd Judicial District, said in a statement.
The vicious attack began with Barkhaus, 33, stabbing someone near their eye at a local restaurant, according to prosecutors, KMGH reported.
Then he visited a Dollar Tree in Aurora, where prosecutors said he stabbed an employee’s head, according to the outlet.
The incident occurred about an hour after the first stabbing, according to prosecutors, who said the victims were randomly targeted.
Afterward, Barkhaus attacked a child at a Walmart, the district attorney’s office said.
The 7-year-old boy had been with his sibling and mother at Walmart “to buy toys” when he was slashed in the back of his head by Barkhaus, police wrote in an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
“Out of nowhere,’” the affidavit said that the boy told his mother, “’This man just punched me,’ referring to an unidentified male suspect that was running away from them.”
The woman saw her son’s head bleeding and yelled: “My son has just been stabbed!,” according to the affidavit viewed by Law&Crime.
Parker police officers arrested Barkhaus in Aurora two days later, the district attorney’s office said.
He was described as having a prior criminal history, as well as a record of previous mental health issues and substance abuse.
During an earlier hearing before his sentencing, Barkhaus told prosecutors that he stabbed the child and two other individuals “for the rush,” according to KMGH.
Brauchler said Barkhaus “blamed his evil actions on years of ‘huffing.’”
Information regarding Barkhaus’ legal representation wasn’t immediately available.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Raible, of the 23rd Judicial District, said in a statement that Barkhaus terrorized a community, and endangered the life of a child, leaving lasting scars on the child and his family.”
“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,” Raible added.
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