By Associated Press - Wednesday, May 14, 2014

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A 4-year-old girl and her father were hit with a crowbar in a bizarre attack in a Wal-Mart store in Northern California.

San Jose Police Sgt. Heather Randol said in a statement that officers responded Tuesday just before 11 a.m. to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at a Wal-Mart store.

Randol says a female suspect - identified as Maria Garate, an 18-year-old transient - approached a man and his young daughter, striking the girl on the head with a crowbar.



When Garate attempted to hit the girl again, her father intervened and was himself attacked.

Garate was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail.

The girl was taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Neither her name nor the male victim’s was released.

The motive for the attack was not clear.

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