Fred Meyer Attacker Charged With Attempted Murder
A man who police say tried to kill a 66-year-old woman at the Yakima Fred Meyer store last month was charged with attempted first-degree murder in Yakima County Superior Court Monday.
Bail has been set at $500,000 for 28-year-old Muhammad Tariq who is being held in the Yakima County jail. Yakima Police say he walked into the store on July 17 stole and knife walked up to a woman near the vegetable section and slashed her throat. He then walked away and was arrested hours later.
The 66-year-old woman was treated at a local hospital and released in good condition.
Tariq not only faces an attempted murder charge but also 1st degree assault and violation of a protection order in a previous conviction.
Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic says Tariq was arrested in mid-April for a felony violation of a protection order and felony eluding. While in jail he went through mental screening and was transferred to Yakima's Comprehensive Healthcare for a 3 month treatment. But he walked out of the facility 2 days before the attack at Fred Meyer.
Brusic says Tariq has been in and out of jail on violation of no contact orders since 2014.
The investigation continues Today.