PORTLAND, Ore. - A man charged with trying to kill a woman with a hammer at a Beaverton Fred Meyer over the weekend had previously been in court for striking a 6-year-old in the throat, police said Monday.

Eric Osterholme, 65, of Beaverton is currently in jail on charges of attempted murder and assault in connection with a hammer attack on Saturday that fractured a Beaverton woman's skull.

Police have said they believe the attack was random and Osterholme did not know the victim.

On Monday police released more information about Osterholme's background.

According to police, he was arrested at his Beaverton apartment in May 2002 after he was accused of hitting a 6-year-old boy who had walked up to Osterholme to say hello in the complex's parking lot.

Police said Osterholme apparently swore at the boy and then hit the youth in the throat with what police described as a "judo-style chop."

The child suffered no serious injuries. Police said it appeared the incident was also random.

Osterholme was later found guilty of harassment in Beaverton Municipal Court and fined $309, police said.

That bizarre incident was less violent than what Osterholme is currently charged with.

Police said Monday they still aren't sure whether the hammer involved in Saturday's attack was brought to the store or was pulled off a shelf.

The victim, 56-year-old Sharon Weil, was shopping for Mother's Day at the Fred Meyer at 11425 S.W. Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway when she was struck while apparently bending over to look at an item on the shelf.

She was taken to Oregon Health and Science University, where she underwent surgery. Weil, pictured below, was listed in serious condition Monday.