Police seek man who tried to slash another man in Costa Mesa parking lot

Police are looking for an apparently homeless man who tried to slash another man with a knife in a grocery store parking lot Friday night in Costa Mesa.

The attack outside a Vons at 185 E. 17th St. began shortly before 11:20 p.m. when a man parked his car and got out, according to Costa Mesa police Sgt. Matt Selinske.

As soon as the driver left his car, another man who appeared to be homeless confronted him, according to police.

The two didn’t know each other, and it’s unclear why the apparently homeless man was upset, according to police.

“The guy just approached him and started talking,” Selinske said.

After exchanging words, the apparently homeless man pulled out a folding knife, locked the blade open and swung it at the driver’s head, Selinske said.

The driver was able to duck and avoid being hurt, according to police.

At that point, four friends who’d been in the car with the driver got out and the attacker fled, Selinske said.

Police did not have a detailed description of the attacker, who appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, according to Selinske.

He left the parking lot on foot and went south on Orange Avenue, police said.