BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) — A grocery store employee who stabbed a shoplifting suspect was defending himself after being hit in the head with a bottle, Bellevue police said Thursday.

The 37-year-old suspect was stabbed multiple times and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with life-threatening injuries, police spokesman Seth Tyler said. He is accused of shoplifting liquor and a basket of items about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at the downtown Safeway.