San Francisco prosecutors charged a man Thursday with assaulting four people, including an 80-year-old patron, during an attack earlier in the week at a West Portal candy store.
Parmjit Singh Janda, 39, of San Francisco, pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony assault and one count of felony elder abuse, the San Francisco District Attorney's office announced Friday.
Prosecutors say Janda attacked and injured four people around 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday at Shaws Candy Store on West Portal Avenue.
The District Attorney's Office alleged that Janda first assaulted store owner Diana Zogaric when she asked him to move from a bench outside. Prosecutors said ge then proceeded to attack an employee who tried to help by calling 911.
During the scuffle, an 80-year-old patron was also injured, authorities said.
A bystander who intervened to help the three victims became the fourth person injured before Janda was detained by other witnesses until officers arrived at the scene and arrested him, prosecutors said.
“The senseless attack at a beloved neighborhood candy store in West Portal has left the community reeling with several people injured,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a written statement. “I am grateful to the Good Samaritan and others who intervened."
Janda is being held without bail and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. His next court date is Oct. 12.