74-Year-Old Woman Uses Bear Spray Outside Lafayette Trader Joe's During Argument
Eight people were exposed after a parking lot argument escalated, and police booked Monica Thomas on assault and tear gas charges.
- On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Lafayette Police arrested 74-year-old Monica Thomas of Oakland after she allegedly used bear spray during an argument at a Trader Joe's on the 3600 block of Mount Diablo Boulevard.
- The confrontation stemmed from an argument between two individuals, escalating when Thomas allegedly pointed bear spray out of her driver's side window and sprayed the other person twice before fleeing.
- Eight exposed victims were treated at the scene by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District crews, with one person transported to a hospital; witnesses provided license plate details that helped officers locate the suspect.
- Police in Orinda stopped Thomas on westbound Highway 24 following witness reports and booked her into the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful use of tear gas.
- Investigators have not released details regarding the argument that sparked the incident, and efforts to reach Thomas for comment were not immediately successful.
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74-year-old woman uses bear spray outside Lafayette Trader Joe's during argument
A 74-year-old woman was arrested after Lafayette police said she shot bear spray outside her car during some type of argument in the Trader Joe's parking lot, which ended up affecting eight people.
CHOCHILINO Woman arrested in bear spray attack outside Lafayette grocery store %
FILE: A woman getting ready to deploy bear spray. petesphotography/Getty Images Police have arrested a 74-year-old woman suspected of using bear spray on several people outside a Lafayette grocery store on the morning of July 25, according to a Facebook post from the Lafayette Police Department. An argument between two people in a parking lot on the 3600 block of Mt. Diablo Boulevard escalated to one of them pointing bear spray out of the drive…
Suspect Attacks Shoppers with Bear Spray at Trader Joe’s Parking Lot
LAFAYETTE, CA — An older woman allegedly attacked shoppers with bear spray at a busy parking in Lafayette. Monica Thomas, 74, of Oakland, was arrested July 25 on suspicion of The post Suspect Attacks Shoppers with Bear Spray at Trader Joe’s Parking Lot appeared first on Crime Voice.
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