Astoria, OR – A 31-year-old man was arrested Friday afternoon after allegedly stabbing an 86-year-old man in a Fred Meyer parking lot in Clackamas County. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the store, located in the 8900 block of Southeast 82nd Avenue, while the elderly man was loading groceries into his car.
Witnesses reported seeing the attack and observed the suspect, later identified as Jesus Ascencio-Molina, flee the scene immediately after the assault. According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the victim told deputies that the suspect, whom he did not know, attempted to steal his car after stabbing him. The assailant then fled on foot.
Authorities launched a search for the suspect, and around 4:30 p.m., Ascencio-Molina was located at a nearby apartment complex. He was arrested and taken into custody without further incident. Ascencio-Molina faces several charges, including first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, second-degree attempted murder, and unlawful use of a weapon.
The elderly victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is receiving treatment for his injuries. CCSO has not released further details regarding his condition.
Ascencio-Molina’s arrest followed a quick response by local law enforcement, and investigators are continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the violent attack. The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward.