Background: The Target in the Mira Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, California (Google Maps). Inset: Cole Klemke (KFMB/YouTube).
A pregnant woman was using an ATM outside a California Target when a man approached and stabbed her — and now the victim has learned that her attacker will be locked away for years.
Cole Klemke was 27 years old when he was arrested for the stabbing roughly two years ago, the San Diego Police Department announced at the time.
This week, he was sentenced to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder, local NBC affiliate KNSD reported.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
On June 15, 2024, at about 10 a.m., the 25-year-old woman was outside the Target in the San Diego, California, neighborhood of Mira Mesa. She was four months pregnant at the time, and she drove up to a drive-thru ATM to withdraw money.
The woman apparently exited her vehicle to reach the machine, at which point Klemke approached her from behind and stabbed her in the neck, chin, and shoulder. She fell to the ground, and the since-convicted defendant kept trying to stab her, authorities said.
But the victim fought back. She kicked him, and Klemke ran away.
The woman was able to get back into her car, and she tried to stop the bleeding, but “there were too many wounds to cover with two hands,” she said, per the TV station. Authorities arrived at the scene, took her to the hospital, and she was released that same day.
According to the police department, detectives reviewed photos and video of the suspect in the Target “just before the crime occurred.” After officers released photos of the suspect, community members helped them identify Klemke as the attacker, and police took him into custody the next day.
Sgt. Erich Drilling reviewed video of the attack — which occurred in broad daylight — and said it was clear that the woman did not know Klemke was behind her, as he said nothing before stabbing her and took no items from her, per KNSD.
Though the victim reportedly did not attend the sentencing hearing, she said in a remote statement, “I’m grateful to be alive and have worked very hard to rebuild my life, but this crime left permanent physical scars, lasting emotional trauma, and burdens that my family and I continue to carry every day.”
The post Pregnant woman using ATM outside Target stabbed in face by complete stranger, says she had ‘too many wounds to cover with 2 hands’ first appeared on Law & Crime.
