Ex-Nebraska baseball player who ‘stabbed pregnant woman at a San Diego ATM’ gets charged with attempted murder – weeks after he was arrested and RELEASED over alleged carjacking
- Cole Klemke allegedly stabbed the 25-year-old victim three times in the neck
- Klemke is charged with attempted murder and will be arraigned on Thursday
- He was arrested and released after an alleged attempted carjacking on June 1
A 27-year-old former University of Nebraska baseball player has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a pregnant woman at a drive-through ATM in San Diego over the weekend.
Cole Klemke, who played in 17 games for the Huskers in 2016, stabbed the 25-year-old victim three times in the neck, left shoulder and chin, according to SDPD Detective Sergeant Eric Drilling.
“This was a random, unprovoked stabbing,” Drilling said, as quoted by Fox 5 San Diego.
Klemke is being held on attempted murder charges and his arraignment is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. He is listed as a Carmel Valley resident but is now homeless, police told Fox 5.
The victim, whose identity has not been publicly released, fought back and witnesses also ran to help, police said. She would be recovering at home from a situation that could have been much more serious.
Klemke was seen on surveillance footage in the area and witnesses saw him stab the victim
The alleged stabbing took place in a busy San Diego shopping center. The victim is recovering
“She’s a fighter, she’s resilient,” Drilling said.
‘Fortunately in this case her carotid artery [artery] was not cut, but the doctor noted that it was close. This could have been a much worse attack had it not been for her resilience and ability to fend off the attacker.”
The stabbing took place on Saturday morning in a busy shopping centre, where Klemke had probably visited a target before the alleged attack.
Police say he was identified through surveillance footage. The tips quickly poured in and on Sunday Klemke was named as a suspect and eventually arrested.
Klemke has also been arrested several times.
Klemke (pictured here in 2016) was ranked as the No. 215 shortstop prospect in the country
He was most recently arrested for possession of methamphetamine, carjacking, resisting arrest and possession of a switchblade on June 1, according to arrest records obtained by CBS8.com.
Klemke was accused of scratching the hood of a car and demanding that the driver surrender the vehicle, but the driver refused.
The San Diego District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges.
“We can only file charges if we believe we can prove them beyond a reasonable doubt, which is our ethical standard,” an office spokesperson said. CBS8.com when asked for further comment.
The Nebraska athletic department confirmed Klemke’s time with the program but provided no further comment.
He was ranked as the No. 215 shortstop prospect in the country, according to Nebraska’s website. However, he appears to have moved to the outfield after arriving in Lincoln.