Enraged Cane Wielding Assailant Beats San Angelo Woman at Joy Store

SAN ANGELO— A San Angelo woman has been arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal negligence after attacking another woman with a cane and putting the victim’s 15-month-old child in danger.

According to court documents, officers were dispatched to the Joy Store, located at 2113 North Chadbourne Street on December 19th, 2022, regarding an assault victim. Patrol officers arrived on scene and learned that the suspects had fled. They also learned the first victim's head was bleeding from two lacerations caused by a walking cane that was used in the attack and that she was already at Shannon Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators then went to Shannon to speak with the woman who stated she was leaving the Joy Store and heard the assailant tell someone to back off. The first victim turned around and observed two females, one in a black shirt and one in a red shirt, approaching. The woman in red had a wooden cane behind her back. The victim overheard the suspects say this was for jumping someone and started hitting her with the cane.

The victim said she was hit so hard the wooden cane broke and after it did, the suspect in red began punching her. The victim was unable to fight back as she was protecting her 15-month-old infant who was in his car seat. Then, the victim noticed a male in black walk up, which she though he was going to help, and the male began punching the victim as well. The male suspect allegedly kicked at the infant in the car seat, but the victim was unable to tell if the man kicked the child or kicked the car seat the infant was in.

After a couple minutes, a witness drove up and started recording the attack. After this, the suspects began to leave in a white SUV that an elderly man was driving. Officers identified two suspects as juveniles. With the vehicle information and suspect information, the vehicle was located at the 400 block of East Harris Avenue.

Investigators went to the crime scene and observed blood on the ground as well as two pieces of a wooden cane. Investigators then spoke with the second victim who stated she, the first victim, and the infant were attacked leaving the Joy Store. Investigators observed injuries above the second victim's right eye and on her left wrist.

After speaking with the witness who drove up and filmed the attack, officers watched the video. Investigators saw that the two juveniles and a third suspect with blood on their hands.

A positive identity was obtained through witness identification, social media, and a photographic lineup. That suspect was identified as Stephanie Guerrero.

Guerrero was arrested on January 14, 2023, for putting the 15-month-old infant in danger and for attacking the victims with a wooden cane. Guerrero was released the next day on $50,000 bond and is not allowed to contact the victim.