Stabbing: Security at the store was tightened after a homeless man stabbed two people at a downtown LA store at 7th Street and Figueroa Street

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A Target store in downtown Los Angeles now has increased security after a homeless man took a large butcher knife from the shelf and stabbed two people – including a young boy – before fatally shooting him.

The horrifying attack happened around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday at a popular shopping complex near Figueroa and 7th Street.

Police say the homeless man entered the store and snatched a butcher knife with a 9-inch blade from a shelf. He approached a 9-year-old boy at the store and told him he was going to kill him, according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore.

“[He]confronted him and told the boy he was going to stab him and kill him,” Moore said. “He repeated this more than once. The small child tried to flee and leave, ignoring him, moving away. The suspect, without further provocation, suddenly attacked this child and stabbed him in the back.”

READ MORE | Targeted security guard fatally shoots man who stabbed two customers at a downtown LA store, LAPD says

The child suffered a deep wound on the back of his shoulder and fell to the ground. Moore said the boy has had surgery and is in stable condition but may have suffered potential neurological damage.

The homeless man also “brutally” stabbed a woman, about 25, in the chest, Moore said. Some Good Samaritans came to her aid, dragged her into the pharmacy area of ​​the store and closed the gate.

The man was eventually fatally shot by a security guard.

Gil Alonso told Eyewitness News he was in the store when the homeless man walked in.

“What I saw was someone walking in and getting angry and reaching for a knife,” he said. “It was mostly chaos… he attacked a child and thankfully security and officers can help, but it’s just traumatic.”

At least five officers were seen patrolling the Target store on Wednesday.

The retail giant has since issued the following statement:

“On Tuesday evening a lone individual attacked several guests at our 7th & Figueroa store in Los Angeles. We can confirm that an outside security officer stepped in to stop the attack and the Los Angeles Police Department responded quickly to the situation. Safety is our top priority and our hearts go out to the injured guests. We are grateful to the Los Angeles Police Department and others for their assistance and are focused on supporting our team following the incident. We would escalate further questions to law enforcement.”

Meanwhile, shoppers like Silver Lake’s Patricia Enriquez said what happened at the store doesn’t change how safe they feel in the area.

“In terms of safety, it’s not just downtown, it seems like it’s happened a lot more downtown, but it can be anywhere,” she said.

The LAPD added that the suspect had no relation to the victims.