Sergeant Wounded, Shots Fired After 911 Call At Shopping Center

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA) — A San Bernardino County sheriff's sergeant has been critically injured but is expected to survive after being stabbed several times while responding to a 911 call.

Many shoppers were disappointed when they came to the Rancho Cucamonga Hobby Lobby and found out it was not open. But investigators had the parking lot blocked off for much of the evening, as they gathered evidence and tried to figure out what led to the stabbing of a sheriff's deputy. A few people say they'd noticed the suspect earlier, because of the way he was dressed.

"He was in longer pajamas. To me, it looked unusual for the time of the day," Witness Jonathan Schultz said.

Investigators say 22-year-old Kenneth Perry, of Fontana, called 911 himself. To claim he'd been abducted. When Sgt. Kimberly Watkins responded, he lunged at her with this knife. She suffered critical stab wounds in the face and shoulder, but was able to grab her weapon and shoot back.

Perry suffered a graze wound to his upper thigh. Watkins was able to hold him, until other deputies could respond and get him into custody. Watkins, who's been with the department for 26 years, was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center. The San Bernardino County Sheriff says he visited her earlier in the day.

Sheriff's investigators say Perry had no previous criminal history in San Bernardino county. He's now facing charges of attempted murder of an officer and is expected in court on Wednesday.