Man Arrested After Trying To Kill Woman At South Bay Shopping Center: TPD

TORRANCE, CA — A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after shooting at a woman at a busy South Bay shopping center in May, according to the Torrance Police Department.

John Cristman opened fire on a woman who was sitting in her car outside a BevMo! in the popular Rolling Hills Plaza shopping center in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway, according to authorities.

The woman's car was struck repeatedly and a couple of rounds were also fired into a business in the shopping center, according to police.

"It's actually pretty amazing that she wasn't shot," Torrance Police Department Lt. C Farley said at the time. Despite bullets ricocheting at the busy plaza, nobody was injured in the shooting.

Investigators later learned that Cristman tried to kill the woman and fled to the Philippines soon after, according to the Torrance Police Department.

A warrant was issued for the 47-year-old's arrest, and he was later located and taken back to the United States with the help of federal agencies, police said.

It's unclear how exactly police connected Cristman with the shooting or what his relationship was with the woman.

The case, meanwhile, has been presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which will determine what charges, if any, Cristman will face.

The Torrance Police Department asks that anyone with more information on the case contact detectives at 310-618-5570.