Valencia, CA – A 39-year-old man was hospitalized after a bloody road-rage confrontation outside a Home Depot in Valencia, authorities said. A suspect is now in custody following the violent incident, which was captured on video.
Incident at Home Depot
The confrontation occurred just after 12 p.m. near Newhall Ranch Road and Rye Canyon Road. Video obtained shows a man wearing a white shirt standing outside his dark-colored Mercedes-Benz.
- He was approached by Leon Hernandez, 39, driving a dark-colored work truck marked with “True Home Renovations” on the sides.
- During the encounter, the Mercedes driver allegedly pulled out a knife and swung it at Hernandez, striking his left hand.
“I saw the guy pull out a knife. Well, he got out of the car with a knife in his hand, then flipped it open in front of me and then swung it at me,” Hernandez told KTLA.
Emergency Response and Surgery
Hernandez immediately sought help. He was located about two miles away near McBean Parkway and Baywood Lane, bleeding heavily from a deep laceration.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies, along with firefighters and paramedics, responded to the scene.
- Hernandez underwent a 90-minute emergency surgery to repair the injury.
- Blood spatter from the wound was visible near the truck but later cleaned by firefighters.
Arrest of Suspect
The Mercedes driver fled the scene but was pulled over by deputies about a mile away on McBean Parkway and taken into custody. Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity.
Victim’s Statement and Personal Impact
Hernandez, a father of two children and a small business owner, shared his relief that the situation wasn’t worse despite the serious injury.
“The guy said something along the lines of, ‘What the f*** are you doing?’ or something like that. And I said, ‘What are you talking about?’” Hernandez explained. “That’s when he swung the knife at me.”
Hernandez noted that his wife is currently deployed in the Navy, and he is now recovering while managing concerns about how the injury may impact his work and business.
Authorities Continue Investigation
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Santa Clarita Station continues to investigate the incident to determine the exact cause and whether any additional charges will be filed.
What do you think could have prevented this violent road-rage confrontation in Valencia? Have you ever witnessed dangerous road behavior in L.A.? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
