Deputies Kill Man as He Was Stabbing Woman

A sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man Saturday morning who was in the act of stabbing a woman in a motel room, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.

The man, identified as Todd Tetrick, 35, died after he was hit in the upper body by a single round from the deputy’s pistol, Sgt. Mike Parker said.

Authorities identified the woman as Wendy O’Brien, 22, of Lancaster. She was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center where she was treated for multiple stab wounds and later released, Parker said.

Authorities said Tetrick and O’Brien have a 21-month-old son, and that Tetrick was arrested in November 1994 after a similar incident in which he allegedly threatened O’Brien with a knife.

Tetrick, who was on parole at the time of that incident, was returned to prison after authorities filed a weapons charge, said Sgt. Bob Killeen, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The episode began before 6 a.m. Saturday, when sheriff’s deputies were called to the E-Z 8 Motel in the 43500 block of N. 17th St. West, Parker said.

A motel employee told deputies that he had attempted to end the disturbance, but was told by Tetrick that he would be killed if he entered the room, Parker said.

When deputies arrived, they were sent to the room, where they heard O’Brien pleading for help, Parker said. Deputies used the motel manager’s key to open the door, but could not gain access because a heavy object was blocking the door, Parker said.

“The deputies then heard the woman screaming, ‘He’s got a knife. He’s going to kill me,’ ” Parker said.

Deputies then kicked in a window, Parker said, and saw Tetrick standing over O’Brien and stabbing her with a knife.

Deputies ordered Tetrick to drop the knife, Parker said. When he continued to attack the woman, one deputy fired a single round. Tetrick died at the scene.

A 9-inch, single-edged steel blade knife was recovered at the scene, Parker said. No deputies were injured in the incident.