Adults, 18-Month-Old Stabbed in Attack on 215 Freeway

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A local man is in police custody on $1 million bail as the suspect in an attack on four adults and an 18-month-old boy who were sitting in a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 215 in Menifee early Monday morning, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

Nicolas Lopez Garcia, 44, of the Romoland community of Menifee allegedly ran across lanes of the southbound and northbound freeway to the vehicle, which was parked just south of Newport Road on the freeway shoulder shortly before 1:30 a.m. Monday. According to the CHP, the suspect had a broken plastic freeway paddle marker with a jagged end in his hands and broke the driver's side window of the 1990 Mazda hatchback.

Garcia then allegedly broke out the rear window and began stabbing the 18-month-old boy. Four adults exited the vehicle and attempted to disarm the suspect. Three of the four sustained minor lacerations before they were able to re-enter the vehicle, flee the scene and call 911, authorities said.

When CHP officers arrived at the scene, they observed the suspect on the freeway shoulder, setting fire to personal belongings of the party of five. The suspect refused to obey officers' orders and was subdued with an Electronic Control Device.

In addition to the minor to moderate lacerations suffered by the three adults, the child received lacerations to his neck. The boy and his mother were transported to Inland Valley Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The injured parties were not identified.