YUCAIPA – A Yucaipa man who attacked a 26-year-old woman, chased down by a city resident who was stabbed to death, was arraigned on Tuesday.
Vincent Alex DeLeon, 26, tied to rob Krystina Hanrahan in the parking lot of a Stater Bros. grocery store on Sunday night. While her two-year-old daughter sat in a shopping cart, police said DeLeon stabbed Hanrahan five times and stole her purse and car keys.
Police reported that a Good Samaritan, Troy Cansler, 47, chased after DeLeon, tracked him down near Fourth St., struggled with him near a fast-food restaurant and was stabbed to death by the suspect.
On Wednesday, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials released more information about the attack.
DeLeon was quickly arrested at a nearby bar by sheriff’s deputies after the 9:30 p.m. attack. The store, which is located on a busy Yucaipa Blvd., is only a few blocks from the Yucaipa substation.
DeLeon, who pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and robbery, was arraigned on Tuesday morning by video conference in San Bernardino.
Cansler left a wife and 12-year-old daughter.
Reports stated that Hanrahan bought about $60 of groceries and with her daughter in the shopping cart, she was standing behind her car when DeLeon slammed her head onto the car. Her purse had been placed on the car when he attacked.
She tried to defend herself against the attack and eventually realized that the suspect’s punches were stabbings. When DeLeon tried to flee, Cansler came up behind her, inquired as to her condition and proceeded to chase the suspect.
DeLeon dropped the the purse and car keys as he fled.
The two men fought, falling to the ground, according to reports, and in the struggle Cansler was stabbed. Paramedics took him to a nearby hospital emergency room where he died from his wounds.
Hanrahan, who lives in nearby Cherry Valley, was released from the hospital the day after the attack. Reports say that she was visiting with family in Yucaipa and stopped at the market on her way home. She did not know Cansler before the attack.
During the attack, Hanrahan had been stabbed in her chest and arms.
Read More:
ABC: Good Samaritan slain chasing robbery suspect
Yahoo News: Hero dies from knife injuries after fighting off attacker
