A man was stabbed while defending his daughter from an allegedly armed homeless woman in Westminster over the weekend, police say.
It happened Sunday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. at the Westminster Civic Center, located in the 8200 block of Westminster Boulevard, according to a statement from Westminster police.
Officers arrived at the scene to find a man bleeding from multiple stab wounds. They provided aid until Orange County Fire Authority paramedics arrived.
Westminster Police
During their preliminary investigation, detectives learned that the victim and his daughter were walking through the courtyard when a bottle was thrown at them by an unknown woman. Shortly afterwards, the woman started walking towards the pair brandishing a knife, police say.
The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Victoria Vu, attempted to stab the child “at which point her father shielded her,” according to the WPD statement. “Vu stabbed the adult victim in the hand and leg.”
After stabbing the man, police say Vu ran away but stayed nearby. They were able to find her moments later, reportedly recovering the knife used in the attack and taking her into custody.
They are trying to determine what prompted the attack. In the meantime, she has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, child endangerment and possession of a switchblade.
“The victim indicated that an unknown member of the public stepped between the suspect and the victim at some point during the altercation and may have prevented further injury to the victims,” police said.
Anyone with additional information or who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact WPD detectives at (714) 548-3724.
