A 29-year-old armed man who allegedly fired multiple shots at a woman at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park, but missed before allegedly stabbing her in what authorities described as a child custody issue, was identified Friday as he remains in custody.
Officers responded at approximately 12:30 p.m. Thursday to reports of a shooting and/or stabbing near the Cheesecake Factory restaurant in the 6600 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police told reporters at the scene that Shayne Suffern had allegedly fired several rounds from an AR-15-style rifle at a woman in her 30s who was with her child, but the woman was not struck by the gunfire due to the rifle malfunctioning.
“Give me back my baby,” Suffern told the victim.
She attempted to escape from Suffern, running with a stroller as Suffern chased after her after securing the rifle back inside a bag.
Suffern then allegedly stabbed the woman in a shoulder, prompting her to run inside the restaurant with her young child.
“The victim grabbed her child from the stroller and the suspect stabbed the victim on the back of her right shoulder with a knife,” police said in a statement.
Suffern tried to flee but was arrested a short distance away.
The woman was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition. Her child — which NBC4 identified as a 2-year-old girl — was uninjured.
The suspect’s vehicle, a dark-colored Mercedes-Benz, was still parked at the scene and officers could be seen searching the car.
Detectives recovered an AR-15 rifle, a knife, and a backpack containing multiple ammunition from Suffern’s vehicle, police said.
The attack remained under an ongoing investigation Friday afternoon.
Suffern was arrested and booked on suspicion of attempted murder, with bail set at $5.325 million.
Anyone with information regarding the attack was urged to call LAPD Topanga Area detectives at 818-374-4820. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be made to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.