Shocking security footage shows a knife-wielding man climb through a coffee stand window in Kent, Washington, on Tuesday morning, holding his weapon against ta barista’s throat while forcing her to leave with him.
According to an interview with local news station KIRO 7, Madeline Guinto, 30, took the coffee order of Michael Reynolds, 33, around 4:45 a.m. and went to prepare it. Reynolds—recently released from prison after serving 12 years for robbery and burglary— allegedly jumped into the stall with her, threatened her with the weapon, then dragged her out of the shop.
“He kept telling me, ‘You’re coming with me or I will kill you,’” she revealed. “I was keeping as calm as I could be, but I was thinking I’m going to die trying to live. I’m going to die fighting.”
Guinto resisted his efforts. She braced herself against the window, but the attacker forced her through it.
“I’m doing everything I can to stall him,” Guinto also told KOMO News. “I’m dragging my feet. I’m giving him dead body weight so it’s not easy for him to just walk me over into my death. And I was just like, ‘Oh my god why isn’t anyone pulling up.’”
In a nearby alley, he threw her down on the ground in what she believes was an attempt to rape her, and she managed to knock the knife free.
“I know for a fact that I’m a lot stronger than I look, so when he was choking me, I knew to just tense up and put my shoulders up, even if I was getting a little bit of air, I could wave my arms back and forth on the ground, feeling for the knife,” the brave barista said.
Another customer arrived at Hottie Shots Espresso a few minutes later, and the assailant fled. The suspect’s boss recognized him in news coverage of the assault and called police to identify Reynolds. He was arrested wearing the same clothing seen in the surveillance video.
“I’m so glad he’s off the street,” Guinto admitted to KIRO 7. “This guy did not expect me to fight back. He didn’t expect me to be as strong as I am. That’s why I hope this would encourage other women to be ready. Don’t work out just because you want to be skinny or fit into that bikini. You work out to be strong so you can fight back.”
No charges have been filed against Reynolds as of yet.
[Feature Photo: Madeline Guinto and Michael Reynolds/Instagram, Police Handout]
