Preliminary hearing held for suspect in Shawnee teen's stabbing at Walmart

Following a preliminary hearing, the case of a suspect charged in connection with the December stabbing of a teenager at Shawnee’s Walmart will advance to trial in Pottawatomie County District Court.

Roy Dean Harjo, 47, is charged with one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, along with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, court record show.

Following his preliminary hearing, where a judge determines if there is enough evidence for a case to proceed, Harjo was bound over for trial, with some adjustments made to the charges based on evidence presented.

Harjo remains jailed in the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center on a $100,000 bond; he has two court dates scheduled in April.

Harjo was arrested in the stabbing of Dillion Burge, 17, after Shawnee police responded to Walmart about 11:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1.

Harjo was identified as the suspect by several witnesses. Police said the suspect was seen yelling and hitting a woman, Shawnee police reported, and Burge reportedly approached the suspect and the female in an attempt to stop him from assaulting her.

The suspect pulled out a knife and approached Burge, stabbing him several times, SPD reports. Burge was taken by REACT EMS to an Oklahoma City hospital, where he underwent surgery as part of his recovery.

Harjo was initially jailed the morning of Dec. 2 and held on a $20,000 bond. He posted bail on Dec. 5, jailed records show, but he was back in jail on Dec. 6 and has remained jailed on the $100,000 bond.