Austin Man Charged with Aggravated Assault After Hatchet Attack

An Austin man has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly attacking a 78-year-old victim with a hatchet at a Home Depot in Hutto. John Bauer, 41, was arrested and is being held on $750,000 bail.

The attack occurred on Friday afternoon inside the store. According to an arrest affidavit, Bauer followed the victim into the store and then stood near the entrance while the victim walked farther in. He then pulled a handheld hatchet from a rack and approached the victim, hitting him with it multiple times.

The victim possibly had both arms broken during the attack and suffered an injury to his head. After dropping the hatchet, Bauer left the store in his car, but was later found by police near the city limits.