A man was charged with attempted murder Friday in a knife attack on a Russian tourist who was visiting the Hollywood & Highland Center earlier this week with his family.
Donald Offerman, 54, also was charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon in the Wednesday attack. The attempted murder charge includes a special allegation that he personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon -- a knife, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Arraignment, scheduled for Friday, was continued to Dec. 10.
Offerman allegedly came up from behind the victim, who was walking up stairs at the Hollywood entertainment and shopping complex with his wife and daughters, and began slashed him with the knife. The suspect "rushed" toward the family before a struggle, during which the victim was cut again as his family ran to safety, the DA's office said in a statement.
Two off-duty New York Police Department Officers stopped the attack and detained the suspect, a transient, at gunpoint, the DA's office said. The takedown was captured on video.
The victim's injuries were not considered life-threatening.
It was not immediately clear whether Offerman has an attorney. The DA's officer recommended bail set at $670,000.
If convicted, Offerman faces up to 24 years to life in prison.
