OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — An Overland Park man has been booked for attempted murder for the stabbing of his boss on Tuesday afternoon. Rieter Wirtz, 50, is expected to be formally charged on Thursday.
The attack happened at Bill Barr and Company, which is located at 8800 Grant Avenue in Overland Park. Police responded to a 9-1-1 call around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday and it was reported that company president William Barr had been stabbed multiple times.
The police report lists four co-workers as victims of aggravated assault. Police say those co-workers came to Barr’s aid, but no one else was stabbed. Investigators aren’t releasing a possible motive, saying they still need to interview Barr in the hospital.
He’s listed in critical condition but is expected to survive. Wirtz was already facing a probation revocation hearing next month related to a prior drunk driving conviction.
Barr was featured in a 2007 Kansas City Business Journal Article discussing his company, which distributes feed ingredients for pets and farms animals. In the article he talks about his twelve employees, saying, “Employees are a great asset to the company. If you treat people the way you want to be treated, they respond. I enjoy working with people.”
