Woman arrested after four stabbed in a West Hollywood Target store [Updated]

An off-duty L.A. County sheriff's deputy arrested a woman Monday on suspicion of stabbing four people in a Target store in West Hollywood. The stabbing set off a stampede among customers, authorities said.

Deputies with the sheriff's West Hollywood Station responded after numerous 911 calls reported a gunman at the Target at La Brea Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, Sgt. Josh Mankini said.

But it turned out a woman had stabbed four other people in the store and was holding a bloody knife when the off-duty deputy confronted her and ordered her to give up the weapon, Mankini said.

[Updated at 2:23 p.m.: The assailant was identified as Layla Rosetta Trawick, 35, from Antioch, Calif., authorities said.

The off-duty deputy was identified as Clay Grant Jr., who is assigned to the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, Capt. Michael Parker said.

“We are exceptionally proud of Deputy Grant,” Parker said. “The reason why this tragic situation wasn’t worse was because of the quick thinking of an armed, off-duty sheriff’s deputy who was willing to risk his life to end this situation.”

Grant was shopping when he heard screaming nearby. He turned the corner and saw the woman carrying two bloody knives, including a butcher knife. He drew his weapon and ordered her to surrender.

A total of five people were treated for injuries, four of them stab wounds. The victims included three women and one man, authorities said.

The reason for the stabbing was unknown and the investigation was continuing, Parker said.]

The woman was not identified and deputies did not have an immediate condition on the victims, who were also not identified.

The Sheriff's Department received numerous calls after one of the victims, who was still bleeding, ran out of the store and people saw the deputy in his civilian clothes with a gun.

"There was a panic in the store," Mankini said, noting witnesses outside the store initially believed there had been a shooting. "Everyone and their brother was calling 911."

-- Andrew Blankstein

RELATED:

Witness watched helplessly as woman stabbed shopper at Target in West Hollywood

Woman accused in Target knife attack suffers from mental illness, family says

Photo credit: KTLA News

Comments

[Tommy Trojan]

Deputy Grant is a true hero. I hope the City of LA truly honors this man's heroic act.

[Matt]

"willing to risk his life?" Really? He's got a gun, she's got a knife, and I'm to believe his life was at risk. I don't doubt he prevented some additional harm, but let's not take this praise too far. He did his job, and as you know, that IS the job of an officer, to be ready to use your weapon even off duty. That's why you get such a generous retirement package, the job is tough.

[Me2]

The woman apparently grabbed a knife off the wall and started stabbing people... in the neck! Then she ran through out the store screaming "I'm not bipolar, I'm not bipolar!" Unbelievable.

[mrs toad]

Just how does a male officer "armed" with a gun, "RISK his LIFE" when going up against a woman with a knife?

[Rick]

She had to be either on drugs or just mentally ill. Luckily, a off duty Deputy was there and stopped her or this could have been much worse.

[ELBER GUDO]

IF THIS HAD HAPPEN IN INGLEWWOD, THE WOMAN WOULD HAD BEEN SHOT BY THE COPS. GOOD JOB OFFICER.

[Zeigs]

Thank God somebody in the vicinity had a gun and used it to stop this woman ... to save lives!

[MrEguy]

Thank you, Deputy Grant. Your quick action saved lives.

[klesb]

Congratulations, Deputy Grant! Who says there is never a "cop" available when you need one! Oh, I guess most victims, but what the heck! We sure wouldn't want trained citizens with non-criminal backgrounds licensed to have arms available to protect themselves and others like Deputy Grant did - that would be so unfair to the crazies and the criminals! People who feel they have this irrational need need to have the means to protect themselves when an officer or deputy is not present just need to move to any of the states adjoining California. Oh, I guess many of them already have. There is something about unilateral disarmament that seems to escape Californians.

[trekqueen]

good example for a reason to have conceal carry!

[Rosie Odonnel]

I love that this crazy lady was stopped by a guy with a gun. I was always told guns have no useful purpose but evidently i was wrong. Thank goodness for the gun!!!

[VPD117]

He did risk his life because there are proven studies that if you are within 21 feet of an assailant, you don't have enough reactionary distance/time to put two shots to the center of mass before you get stabbed. She had two knives already in hand, intent to use them, and he was in a store with obstacles and debris that could have caused the Deputy to trip or become distracted long enough for her to attack. He did good and I'm glad that no one died of injuries.