LA crew member stabbed while protecting 9-year-old child during attack

Nurse Who Treated Child Immediately After Incident: "Child Embraced, More Than 5 Stab Wounds"
Initially Reported That Crew Member Attacked After Stabbing Child

USC Hospital exterior. Photo by USC Hospital website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] On the 15th, a flight attendant A (25, female) of a Korean airline was stabbed by a homeless person wielding a weapon at a large supermarket in downtown Los Angeles (LA), USA. It has been claimed that she was injured while protecting a 9-year-old child.

On the 18th (local time), the Korea Central Daily conducted a phone interview with a trauma specialist nurse at USC Hospital who helped urgently transport A immediately after the incident. The nurse responded to the interview, saying that the actual situation at the time of the incident was very different from the reported content. He stated, "Although it was reported that the child was injured and A was also injured as separate victims, in fact, A was harmed while trying to protect the child," and "A's wounds are clearly injuries sustained while protecting someone."

According to the nurse, when the suspect chased the fleeing child victim, A embraced the child. Afterwards, the suspect stabbed A more than five times with a knife on her right back, side, and upper chest, causing fatal injuries to her lungs. The nurse said, "A was young but calm and brave, which surprised me," and added, "Even when being transported to the hospital, she said she was okay and told us to help the others who were injured first. In my 12 years as a nurse, I have never seen a patient act so calmly."

At the time of the initial report of the incident, it was known that a homeless man in his 40s approached a 9-year-old boy inside the store, shouted "I will stab you to death," stabbed the fleeing child's back with a knife, then crossed the store and approached a group of women, stabbing A in the chest. The perpetrator was shot by a nearby shopping mall security guard and was taken to the hospital but died. It is known that A was waiting for a return flight after completing work on the Incheon?LA route when the incident occurred.

Currently, A has undergone surgery at USC Hospital and is recovering. She is able to communicate but is expected to have difficulty with daily activities for some time due to lung damage. Meanwhile, another flight attendant who was at the scene with A is reported to be suffering from severe shock and trauma. The boy protected by A sustained a deep laceration on his left shoulder but is in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately dispatched a consul to the hospital upon learning of the accident to check the patient's condition and requested a thorough investigation by the local police. The Ministry also stated, "We will continue to provide necessary consular assistance while monitoring the victim's treatment situation." The airline where A works also dispatched a representative to the local area immediately after the accident to investigate the circumstances. An airline official said, "The company will do everything to support the speedy recovery of the injured employee."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.