Santa Ana Man Arrested as Suspect in Violent Attack at Corona Gym

CORONA – What apparently began with a man acting erratically while in his car in the Corona Planet Fitness parking lot, allegedly erupted into a vicious attack involving a hatchet and knife, perpetrated against a gym patron.

Ronald Vikash Chand of Santa Ana was arrested Tuesday morning inside the Planet Fitness at 3685 Grand Oaks, near Cajalco Road. Chand was booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury, and was being held Wednesday, without bail.

According to the Corona Police Department, a 41-year-old Riverside man, whose name was not released, was in the fitness club parking lot when Chand confronted him shortly after 9 a.m., wielding a hatchet and knife.

Corona Police Sgt. Jason Waldron reveals, that “while sitting in his vehicle, the suspect was acting erratic and the victim ended up recording his erratic behavior. The suspect saw the victim recording which could have triggered the incident.”

Chand allegedly struck the victim with the hatchet and stabbed him with the knife, resulting in “stab wounds to the upper body,” prompting the man to retreat into the Planet Fitness, police Waldon added.

“While inside, Chand held the victim at knifepoint for a short period before being taken to the ground by the victim and was disarmed and detained with the assistance of bystanders.”

He said gym employees called 911, and patrol officers reached the location minutes later, taking Chand into custody without further incident.

“The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non- life-threatening injuries and has since been released,” the sergeant said.

Chand suffered an unspecified minor injury and was also medically treated before being booked into jail, according to Waldon.