HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office indicated that on Thursday, February 14, transient Donald Offerman, 57, was sentenced to nine years in state prison for trying to kill a Russian tourist and attacking his family at Hollywood & Highland in November 2015.
The LADA’s Office indicated that Offerman pleaded no contest to one count each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon and admitted an allegation of causing great bodily injury in a negotiated plea agreement. He was immediately sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Norm Shapiro.
On November 18, 2015, the victim and his family were visiting the region from Russia. They were walking up a flight of stairs at the shopping and entertainment complex when Offerman came up behind them and slashed the victim with a knife. He rushed towards the victim’s family and swung the knife at them several times.
A struggle transpired between Offerman and the victim, who was cut again by the knife, as the victim’s family fled for safety. Two off-duty police detectives witnessed what happened and interceded, holding Offerman at gunpoint.
The case was filed on November 20, 2015, but Offerman was found incompetent to stand trial a month later. On April 26, 2018, the defendant was verified to have regained competency and the criminal case proceeded. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department Hollywood Division.
