The San Diego Police recently arrested a suspect who stabbed a pregnant woman in front of an ATM. The suspect, who has more information revealed about his past, was reported to have been a former baseball star but fell into drug use, posing a threat to his family, and had a recent arrest for attempting to carjack a vehicle.
The attack took place on Saturday, June 15, close to 10 a.m. at a Target shopping plaza located at 8251 Mira Mesa Boulevard in San Diego. The victim was withdrawing money from a Bank of America ATM when the suspect approached her and stabbed her three times.
According to the San Diego Police Department, “A male suspect approached the victim and stabbed her in the upper body with a sharp weapon. The suspect then pushed the victim to the ground and continued to stab her two more times with the weapon.”
The victim sustained deep knife wounds on her neck, left shoulder, and chin. She was transported to the hospital by an ambulance for treatment but was not in life-threatening condition.
The identity of the victim has not been disclosed, but the police mentioned that she is 25 years old, four months pregnant, with the fetus unharmed, and she has since been discharged from the hospital.
As bystanders rushed to help the victim, the suspect fled the scene. The following day, on June 16, at 2:30 p.m., the police apprehended the suspect, 27-year-old Cole Klemke, in Carmel Valley in North County.
Preliminary investigations suggest that this was a random incident, as the suspect did not know the victim. He did not speak or steal any money during the attack.
According to City News, the Port of San Diego Police had previously arrested Klemke on June 1 for attempting to carjack a vehicle. He had used a blade to scratch the hood of a car and demanded the driver to get out, but was refused. When the police arrived, they found methamphetamine in his possession. However, the prosecutor’s office did not file charges against him, and he was released.
Online information shows that Klemke was a former baseball team member at the University of Nebraska and had played for the school team in 2016 and 2017, as confirmed by CBS8. He graduated from Torrey Pines High School, one of San Diego’s top high schools, in 2015, as a member of the Varsity Baseball team. His information is still available on the school’s baseball team webpage.
NBC7 reported court documents indicating that Klemke’s mother had filed for a restraining order against him in 2020. The order alleged that he was using drugs at home and exhibiting dangerous behavior towards family members, refusing treatment. His mother requested the court to restrict his contact with family members and prevent him from coming home if he used drugs, but the request was denied by the judge.
Although Klemke’s listed address is in Carmel Valley, the San Diego Police stated that he is homeless.
Records from the San Diego County Jail indicate that Klemke will undergo arraignment on June 20.