Woman stabbed in carjacking

ORANGE — A woman is hospitalized in critical condition with life threatening wounds after she was stabbed during a carjacking in a grocery store parking lot. The suspect is under arrest.

Orange police Sgt. Sean O’Toole says the carjacking took place in an Albertson’s parking lot at 8440 East Chapman Avenue about 9:30 a.m. Monday morning.

The woman, described as in her 40’s or 50’s, was heading to her car with her groceries when she was approached by a man who demanded the victim turn over the keys to her bronze or silver, four-door 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid.

Witnesses say they saw the woman hand the man the keys. He then punched the woman and stabbed her in the chest, according to Orange Police Sgt. Doug Adams.

Several witnesses tried to help the woman. One person began rendering aid while another started banging on the vehicle trying to prevent the man from escaping, Adams said. The suspect, however, got away with the car. The car’s license plate number is 5WNX759, Adams said.

He was arrested shortly before 3 p.m. near Villa Park high school. Someone who had heard news reports about the stabbing saw the vehicle and the suspect behind the wheel. He called police who interviewed the suspect and took him into custody. The victim’s Honda Hybrid was found a short distance away from where the suspect was arrested.

The suspect was described as Latino or Middle-Eastern, 25 to 35 years old and wearing a gray sweat suit. He may have asked other shoppers for money before the attack.