Lancaster Man Held After Alleged Stabbing Rampage

A man who allegedly went on a stabbing spree was in critical condition Tuesday after being shot by a neighbor who was trying to come to the aid of the victims, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.

George McCollom, 29, stabbed a house guest and two of his neighbors Sunday night before he was shot once in the abdomen by Paul Barnes, 49, authorities said.

The incident began about 8:30 p.m. when McCollom began arguing with his wife, Bente, at the couple’s house in the 1100 block of West Avenue J in Lancaster, deputies said.

Bente McCollom, 42, left the house after the fight and, when McCollom could not find her, he asked house guest Melinda Taylor, a family friend, where she was. When Taylor said she did not know, McCollom began beating her with his fists and stabbing her in the upper torso, according to the Sheriff’s Department report.

After Taylor fled, McCollom allegedly went to a neighbor’s house, where he believed his wife might be, and confronted two occupants, John Breeding, 66, and Danielle Breeding, 17. When they told McCollom they did not know his wife’s whereabouts, he attacked them, stabbing John Breeding in the arm and neck and Danielle Breeding in the arm, deputies said.

“It appears he began stabbing without provocation,” said Deputy Jeff Adams of the Antelope Valley sheriff’s station.

Barnes witnessed the attack, retrieved a shotgun from his house and shot McCollom in the abdomen, authorities said.

“The neighbor came out and tried to stop the attack and when [McCollom] ignored his warnings to stop, he fired a single round,” Adams said. “On the surface, it appears his actions were justified, but it is still being investigated.”

McCollom was transported taken to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he underwent surgery. On Tuesday, his condition remained critical, sheriff’s officials said.

McCollom was being held on suspicion of attempted murder and assault.

Taylor, 27, was airlifted to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where she also underwent surgery. Sheriff’s officials said she was in stable condition Tuesday.

The Breedings were treated at Lancaster Community Hospital and released, deputies said.