A dispute over a pizza order escalated into violence at a Norfolk, Virginia, restaurant, leaving an employee hospitalized with severe injuries and a married couple facing felony charges.
Catherine Natasha Harper, 45, and her husband Corey Trelain Harper, 47, both from Chesapeake, Virginia, were arrested following an incident at MOD Pizza near the Norfolk Premium Outlets on Sunday, November 17, 2024.
According to court documents, Catherine Harper initiated an argument with a 24-year-old employee over what she perceived to be a “botched order.” During the confrontation, she allegedly called her husband and instructed him to “handle the situation.”
Upon arrival at the restaurant, Corey Harper allegedly stabbed the employee multiple times, inflicting wounds to the victim’s back and front. Court filings indicate that one of the cuts across the torso was severe enough to expose the victim’s intestines.
The couple fled the scene after the attack, according to police reports. The employee was transported to a hospital with what authorities described as non-life-threatening injuries.
Following their arrest, both suspects appeared before the Norfolk General District Court on Monday. A judge ordered them held without bond. Corey Harper faces felony charges of malicious wounding and brandishing a firearm, while Catherine Harper is charged with conspiracy to commit malicious wounding. Their next court appearance is scheduled for January 1.
MOD Pizza released a statement expressing concern over the incident. “We were dismayed to learn about an argument inside our Norfolk-area Lake Wright restaurant involving one of our employees and two guests,” a spokesperson for the chain said. The company emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for behavior that escalates conflicts and confirmed its cooperation with the Norfolk Police Department’s ongoing investigation.
The restaurant chain announced it would conduct internal due diligence while the employee recovers in the hospital. “Moments like these force organizations to re-examine employee training and look for ways to reinforce values and expectations,” the company stated.