CLACKAMAS - A Portland man was facing attempted murder charges after deputies said he attacked a shopper in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart on SE 82nd Avenue Monday evening.
Clackamas County investigators said 59-year-old Harry Anderson of Milwaukie, was walking to his car in the parking lot at 10000 SE 82nd Avenue when he was hit on the back of his head.
The hammer-wielding suspect then hit Anderson in the forehead and began to attempt another strike when Anderson was able to deflect the blow.
That fella was going to try and kill me, Anderson told KGW. I was on the ground. With the hammer he had, the way he was swinging it, I was dead meat.
A witness, John Curran, 36, of Happy Valley, was able to intervene and the suspect fled on foot. The attacker was reportedly smiling as he swung the hammer.
Other witnesses told police where the suspect headed and officers caught him a short time later.
Jonathan Edward Jones, 31, who listed a Portland address on Northeast 202nd, was arrested and accused of attempted murder and assault, menacing and disorderly conduct from an existing warrant. His bail was set at $250,000.
Anderson was treated and released. He said he wants to take the Good Samaritans who helped him out to dinner.
