Mom fights off pepper spray attack in Costco parking lot

WEST VALLEY CITY — A woman was attacked with pepper spray in a Costco parking lot Sunday in what police believe was an attempted robbery.

The 23-year-old Salt Lake woman was unbuckling her toddler and infant in the backseat of her car when a man got into the passenger seat and sprayed her in the face with pepper spray in the parking lot of the Costco at 3747 S. 2700 West just before 5 p.m., West Valley City police said.

The woman managed to grab hold of the pepper spray despite her damaged vision and started honking the car's horn, gaining the attention of a man walking in the parking lot, West Valley Police Lt. Dalan Taylor said.

Police said that man approached the car to help and the suspect fled, getting into the passenger seat of a nearby car, a late '90s Chevy Cavalier, which drove off toward 3800 South on the east side of Costco.

"Mom did a good job fending the guy off and keeping the attention drawn to her and getting the attention of people passing by," Taylor said.

Police are now looking for the man who fled. He is described as white, in his 20s, about 5-feet-10-inches tall with a shaved head, wearing baggie clothes and a white and black hoodie. The female driver of the getaway car is described as having long, brown hair.

— Lana Groves