EL CAJON, Calif. (KGTV) -- A man is facing attempted murder charges after attacking a woman with a metal torque wrench in El Cajon Wednesday.
According to police, 32-year-old Cristian Graciano allegedly beat the 40-year-old victim with the roughly 2-foot-long metal tool outside her workplace in the 800 block of Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon around 10:30 a.m.
Police say before the attack, Graciano started following another woman walking in the area.
"The woman entered a nearby business to get away from the man, as he was acting strangely and making her feel uncomfortable. A female employee of the business assisted the woman by watching the man and staying with her until a car arrived for her," Lt. Randy Soulard said.
Once outside the business, police say the suspect immediately and, without provocation, began to strike the female employee numerous times in the head and upper body. The victim was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including a broken arm and lacerations to her head and hands.
Later in the day, Graciano was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of attempted murder.
Graciano has an extensive, violent criminal history and is currently on supervised probation out of Riverside County. He is also under investigation for a strong-arm robbery that occurred earlier that day at approximately 4:00 a.m. at a gas station on North Mollison in El Cajon. The victim, in that case, was not hurt.
The El Cajon Police Department asks that anyone with information regarding this incident call them at (619) 579-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
