A man who stabbed a Russian tourist in Hollywood could face an attempted murder charge, authorities said today.
Donald Offerman, 54, is in custody today in lieu of USD 100,000 bail, said Los Angeles Police Officer Jane Kim. He is suspected of using a large kitchen knife to attack a tourist in his 20s who was on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with his family yesterday.
Police say the wounded tourist is expected to survive following surgery. Investigators say the attack was unprovoked.
The two off-duty New York police detectives, in Los Angeles on police business, saw the attack and held Offerman until Los Angeles police arrived.
The officers, Albert Ramos and Dan Mulligan, had just left a coffee shop when they said the commotion. Ramos says he saw Offerman holding a knife above a man bleeding from his neck and ordered him at gunpoint to drop the weapon.
Ramos says he tied up Offerman's hands while Mulligan helped the victim.
The detectives credited their eight-year partnership with their quick response, and said their training just kicked in. Kim didn't know where Offerman lives or whether he has an attorney.
