Hercules Man Charged With Murder In Hardware Store Stabbing Death

Bay City News Service

A Hercules man accused of stabbing an El Sobrante hardware store employee to death has been charged with murder, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office.

Daymond Agnew, 34, is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 13 on charges of murder with an enhancement for use of a deadly or dangerous weapon, prosecutors said.

Agnew is accused of stabbing 51-year-old Daniel Stone of Pinole to death during a robbery of Oliver's Ace Hardware on San Pablo Dam Road at about 9 a.m. Sunday, sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said.

When deputies arrived, they found Stone in the parking lot suffering from wounds to his upper body, Lee said.

Deputies provided first aid, and fire and medical personnel arrived and continued treating Stone before he was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, Lee said.

Stone was pronounced dead at 11:12 a.m. An autopsy found that his death was caused by two stab wounds to the chest, Lee said.

After searching the area for the attacker, deputies located Agnew inside a nearby home and interviewed him, Lee said

He was arrested and remains in jail on $1 million bail.

Ace Hardware spokeswoman Kate Kirkpatrick said, "Our condolences go out to Danny's family, as well as the store as they deal with this senseless tragedy."

Stone leaves behind his mother, a daughter and two grandchildren, Kirkpatrick said.

Anyone with additional information about the killing is asked to call the sheriff's office at (925) 313-2600.