Man strikes woman in head with hammer in Beaverton

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Police said a woman was seriously injured at a Beaverton Fred Meyer Saturday when a man struck her in the head with a hammer while she was shopping.

Sharon Weil, 56, suffered a skull fracture, police said. The Portland woman was taken to Oregon Health and Science University, where she underwent surgery Saturday afternoon, police said.

The suspect, 65-year-old Eric Irving Osterholme of Beaverton, was placed in the Washington County jail on charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault.

According to police, the man and woman were on aisle 10 of the Fred Meyer at 11425 S.W. Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway when the attack occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. Police believe Weil was bending over to pull something off a shelf when she was struck.

When police arrived at the store, witnesses pointed them to Osterholme, who was standing next to a checkout stand. As he was taken into custody, other officers went to find the victim, who was found lying on the floor of the aisle.

It was not clear what events led up to the attack. Police don't believe the woman and man knew each other.

It was also not clear whether the hammer was brought into the store or was one from the shelf.

"This is just a very tragic, random attack in broad daylight inside of a store," said Beaverton police Sgt. Paul Wandell, "and we are still trying to find out why ... this attack occurred."