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July 15, 2025: Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Woman Parked in Shopping Plaza in Torrance
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John Christman faces up to life in state prison
TORRANCE, CA — A 47-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder for driving up behind a woman parked in her car in a Rolling Hills shopping plaza on May 9 and shooting more than two dozen rounds at her vehicle, with 20 bullets hitting her car and six hitting a nearby occupied dance studio, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
“The victim faced a barrage of bullets, and we are thankful no one was hurt in this senseless rapid-fire attack,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “I thank the Torrance Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals for working with our office to extradite the defendant back to Los Angeles from the Philippines after he fled so he can face these allegations in court.”
John Paul Christman (dob 11/5/77) of Redondo Beach is charged in case 25TRCF00442 with one felony count of attempted murder; one felony count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle; and eight felony counts of shooting from a motor vehicle. It is further alleged that Christman personally used a handgun in the commission of the offenses.
The incident occurred in a parking lot in Rolling Hills Plaza in Torrance. No one was struck by the bullets.
The suspect left the scene and fled to the Philippines on May 14.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Torrance Police Department worked with Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals to bring the defendant back to the United States.
The defendant was arraigned on July 14 and pleaded not guilty. The Court set bail, per the People’s request, at $1,950,000. A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for August 13 in Department G of the Torrance Courthouse. The defendant remains in custody.
If convicted as charged, Christman faces up to life in state prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Rachel Hardiman and Kevin Yermian of the Torrance Branch and was investigated by the Torrance Police Department.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Torrance Police Department’s Detective Division at (310) 618-5570.
The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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