Trick-or-Treater, 12, Suffers Beating

HESPERIA, Calif. — A 12-year-old trick-or-treater was beaten over the head with a golf club and stabbed in the kidney with the shaft after he knocked on a neighbor’s door, police said, an attack that left his quiet neighborhood shaken.

Richard Hernandez was in critical but stable condition Monday at Loma Linda University Medical Center, said police spokeswoman Karen Morgan.

An aluminum bat and a metal pole, both with blood on them, were found at the scene, and witnesses said they also saw the boy attacked with a bat.

Richard was trick-or-treating with his brother and a friend about 8:50 p.m. Sunday when they knocked on Randall Colbrunn’s door, according to the Hesperia Police Department.

Colbrunn allegedly hit Richard on the head with the golf club again and again, and when the club broke, he stabbed the boy in the back with the broken shaft, police said.

A passerby attempted to stop the attack, authorities said, but feared for her safety because Colbrunn refused to put the broken club down.

Teresa Harvey, who called police after Richard’s brother and friend ran to her home for help, said she could see the attacker’s shadow from Colbrunn’s driveway.

“He struck that baby twice and the baby didn’t make a sound,” she said.

Chris King, who lives across the street, said he was home when he heard a ruckus and thought there was a fight in the street. He went to his window and allegedly saw Colbrunn standing at the door with a baseball bat.

The attacker raised the bat over his head and slammed it down, said King, 16.

“I saw a little kid’s hand go up, and then fall down. It broke me. . . . I didn’t know what to do,” he said.

Colbrunn, 35, was arrested for investigation of attempted murder and jailed at the West Valley Detention Center. Police said they suspect he may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Morgan said she could not disclose whether Colbrunn had any previous criminal record.

A few hours after the attack, police searched the home and arrested Colbrunn’s girlfriend, Doreen Johnson, 40, for investigation of possessing a controlled substance. Morgan did not know what drug was involved.

Neighbors said Colbrunn has been a problem since he and his girlfriend moved in about three years ago.

Police often were called to the house, said Jennifer Caswell, 21.

“It’s always something with them. There’s always a problem over there,” she said. “If they ever come back here, we’re moving.”

King said he often saw Colbrunn on the street yelling loudly.

“It’s nuts when he’s out here. I’m scared to walk to my friend’s home because I’m afraid of him,” the teenager said.

Colbrunn’s house had Halloween decorations, but the porch light was off when the boys, who live on another street, approached.