Hammond Man Charged After Two Stabbings Minutes Apart At Grocery Store And Crash Scene
HAMMOND — Brandon Leandrews Robinson, 33, of Hammond, is charged in Lake County with aggravated battery and battery with a deadly weapon after police allege he stabbed two men in separate incidents minutes apart Feb. 12, 2026, first inside a grocery store and then after a traffic crash on 165th Street.
According to court documents, the first stabbing occurred about 4:11 p.m. inside a Van Til’s grocery store at 2635 169th Street. The victim told police he was standing near the fish section when Robinson approached and said “excuse me.” The man said Robinson then became confrontational, stating, “Yea you heard what the fuck I said,” and threatened, “I’ll fucking kill you.” The victim reported that as he walked toward the checkout area, Robinson ran up behind him, pulled out a black knife, and stabbed him in the right side of the head before fleeing.
Store surveillance video showed a male wearing a red beanie-style hat pull an object from his pocket and strike the victim in the head before exiting the store and walking into the parking lot. Additional footage showed the same male previously passing the victim in the rear of the store and appearing to argue with him before leaving and then returning to attack him near the front.
While officers were still investigating at the store, police learned a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle had been involved in a crash on 165th Street and that another stabbing had occurred at that location. Investigators determined a family had just left a grocery store and were traveling west on 165th Street near the Dollar Tree and Home Depot when their vehicle was struck. The second victim exited his vehicle because he was angry his children were inside during the crash and confronted the other driver.
Witnesses reported the men argued and began fighting, and the suspect threw the first punch. The suspect then walked back to his car, retrieved a knife, and stabbed the second victim before dropping the knife in the street, returning to his vehicle, and fleeing.
The second victim told police he had approached a black Chevrolet Aveo after the collision and initially thought an older woman was driving. He opened the vehicle door and saw a beer bottle and smelled alcohol. He said the driver exited and appeared ready to run, and the two began fighting. The victim stated that as they struggled and got back to their feet, he noticed a police car nearby and attempted to flag it down, but then “everything happened.” He said he did not realize he had been stabbed until he saw blood, at which point he released the suspect, who got back into the car and drove away.
Police soon located and stopped a damaged black sedan matching the suspect vehicle in the 1400 block of 165th Street. Officers observed the driver exiting the vehicle and noted he matched the stabbing suspect description and had what appeared to be blood on his hand and sweatshirt. The driver was identified as Robinson.
Photographs taken during the investigation showed the first victim suffered a stab wound to the temple area of his head. The second victim suffered multiple head lacerations requiring stitches and a severe left ear injury described as nearly severed in half.
Lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed February 13,2026:
• Aggravated Battery (Level 3 felony)
• Battery With a Deadly Weapon (Level 5 felony)
• Battery With a Deadly Weapon (Level 5 felony)
