Machete attack on music industry veteran stuns neighborhood

Residents of a Woodland Hills neighborhood where a music industry veteran was stabbed with a machete and scalpel Sunday expressed shock over the incident.

Police said Jerry Sharell -- who hosts a show on KJAZZ-FM (88.1) -- was visiting his girlfriend about 8 a.m. Sunday in the 4700 block of Nomad Drive in Woodland Hills before the attack.

“Basically, I was just shocked because he’s just the greatest guy and I feel for his family,� Mike Zarsky told KTLA-TV on Monday.

Witnesses said the girlfriend’s former husband pulled up on his motorcycle when the two were inside the home.

“I saw a man on a motorcycle drive up, parked right across the street there, and some guy got off the motorcycle and pulled out a bouquet of flowers,� Harold Sullman told CBS-LA.

Police say the ex-husband, who was not immediately identified, was also carrying a machete and a scalpel. He somehow was able to hold the woman and Sharell hostage over the next several hours, during which he allegedly stabbed Sharell several times, including in the neck, KNBC-TV Channel 4 reported.

The man then turned the weapon on himself, police said.

“He asked his ex-wife to watch as he killed himself,� Sgt. Jeff Nuttall told KCBS-TV Channel 2.

It was about then that the woman managed to escape and call police, who rescued the pair and took the attacker into custody. Sharell underwent surgery and is expected to survive, KNBC reported. The suspect was also hospitalized.

Meanwhile, neighbors were left stunned by the attack.

“I’ve been living in this neighborhood for 30 years … and there’s a few little things, but it’s basically a really good neighborhood,� Zarsky said.

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