Business owner is attacked in store | News

Once there, they met emergency medical personnel who were caring for the 56-year-old business owner, who had multiple injuries to her head and face. She told police she was attacked by two people, a man and a woman who she recognized because they asked her for money daily, officials said.

The two people came into the store and asked for photocopies. While she was making the photocopies, the man grabbed her from behind and covered her face and mouth with his hand as he tried to drag her to the bathroom. At the same time, the woman began beating her with a pole, hitting her about 30 times across her head, face and torso, officials reported.

The business owner was taken to a local hospital and is recovering.

Officers arrested two people nearby who closely matched the victim’s description of their attackers. The officers also saw apparent blood on the woman’s clothing. The woman said she didn’t know the victim but was there to kill her because “she’s evil,” officials reported.

The two suspects, identified as 59-year-old Lita Barnes of California City and 47-year-old Shelton Hickman of Norwalk, were arrested on multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, making false statements, and false imprisonment Assault resulted in serious bodily injury, officials reported.

They are in the custody of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with further information about this case is asked to contact the California City Police Department at 760-373-8606.