Crime & Safety

Man Attacked FL Restaurant Owner Before Being Fatally Stabbed By Him, Police Say

A man was fatally stabbed Friday evening during an altercation with the owner of Ahi Sushi in downtown St. Pete, police said.

Updated: Saturday, 8:26 a.m.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL โ€” Dustin Hedenberg, 41, was stabbed to death Friday evening by a restaurant owner in downtown St. Petersburg, authorities said.

Officers reported the scene of the stabbing outside Ahi Sushi, 364 1st Ave. N., just before 6 p.m.

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Investigators learned that Hedenberg had been behaving erratically and punched a person at the Scientology Center at 336 1st Ave. N. moments before the stabbing, according to a St. Petersburg police news release.

He then made his way to the sushi restaurant, where he got into a heated confrontation with the owner, 51-year-old Fayun Zhang.

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During the attack, Zhang grabbed a screwdriver and stabbed Hedenberg, who was brought to Bayfront Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Zhang hasnโ€™t been charged as of Saturday morning. Detectives will discuss the death with the state attorneyโ€™s office to determine if charges are warranted, police said.

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