70-year-old woman pistol-whipped; man charged
An 18-yearold Emeryville man has been charged in three pistol-whippings Monday in San Mateo County, including an attack on a 70-yearold woman who was beaten and knocked to the ground twice, authorities said Thursday.
Two younger women were also pistol-whipped and knocked to the ground. All three women required medical treatment but it was not known if any had to be hospitalized.
San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Albert Serrato on Thursday called the attacks “brazen, unprovoked and vicious” and said there would be a “vigorous prosecution.”
The suspect, identified as Elijah Wallace, is charged with multiple counts, including elder abuse, assault with means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, carrying a loaded firearm in public and obliteration of a firearm identification marks. The charges also include an enhancement clause that he was armed with a gun.
The gun used in the attacks, a loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that had its serial number scratched off, was found in the backpack of Wallace’s 17-year- old girlfriend who was with him when the women were assaulted, authorities said.
Prosecutors said the first attack, involving the 70-year- old woman, happened about 4:15 p.m. Monday at the Woodlake Apartment Complex in San Ma- teo. Wallace was urinating in a bush at the complex when the woman asked him to stop, prosecutors said.
Wallace became enraged, cursed the woman and pistol-whipped her in the head with the pistol, knocking her down, prosecutors said. When the woman got up she was pistol-whipped and knocked to the ground again before Wallace and his girlfriend ran off.
San Mat eo pol ic e searched for him and the girl but could not find them.
An hour later, Burlin- game police and San Mateo County Sheriff ’s Off ice transit bureau officers were sent to the Burlingame Cal Train Station after 911 callers said a man was pistolwhipping people there.
Authorities learned that Wallace had gotten into an argument with a 19- year- old woman he did not know, pulled the Glock and pointed it at her and her 18- year- old friend. Both were pistolwhipped and knocked to the ground.
Wallace, who police said appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, and his girlfriend were arrested nearby and the backpack and gun recovered.
Serrato said because of confidentiality rules regarding juveniles, he could not discuss any action that might be taken against the girl. Wallace has pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces a preliminary hearing Nov. 15. He is being held in lieu of $205,000 bail.