Westfield Topanga Attacker's AR-15 Malfunctioned Before He Stabbed Victim: LAPD

VAN NUYS, CA — A 29-year-old man who allegedly wielded an assault weapon at a woman at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park then stabbed her in a shoulder when the weapon malfunctioned was charged Monday with attempted murder and other counts.

A doubt was declared about the mental competency of Shayne Suffern, 29, with a Sept. 8 hearing set for him at the Hollywood courthouse.

Suffern — who is also charged with attempted kidnapping and possession of an assault weapon — was arrested after allegedly trying to flee from the scene of the crime near the Cheesecake Factory restaurant in the 6600 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard last Thursday.

Officers responded at about 12:30 p.m. that day to reports of a shooting and/or stabbing near the restaurant, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

According to police, Suffern allegedly approached a woman in her 30s who was with her young child and said, "Give me back my baby." The man then pulled an AR-15-style rifle from his backpack and tried to shoot at the woman, but the weapon malfunctioned, police said.

She attempted to run away from Suffern, pushing her child in a stroller, but Suffern chased after her after putting the rifle back inside his backpack, police said. Suffern then allegedly stabbed the woman in a shoulder, prompting her to run inside the restaurant with her young child.

"The victim grabbed her child from the stroller and the suspect stabbed the victim on the back of her right shoulder with a knife," police said in a statement.

Suffern allegedly tried to flee but was arrested a short distance away.

The woman was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition. Her child — whom NBC4 identified as a 2-year-old girl — was uninjured. Police said "there is no evidence to suggest the suspect and victim know each other."

Detectives recovered an AR-15 rifle, a knife, and a backpack containing multiple rounds of ammunition from Suffern's vehicle, police said.

Anyone with additional information regarding the attack was urged to call LAPD Topanga Area detectives at 818-374-4820. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be made to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service