Woman accused of attempting to murder North Park hairstylist ordered to stand trial
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — A woman accused of trying to shoot a North Park stylist who gave her a haircut she didn’t like must stand trial on a charge of premeditated attempted murder and the use of a firearm, a judge ruled Thursday.
Adrian Blanche Swain, 29, faces life in prison if convicted.
Lennin Luna Lopez testified during a preliminary hearing that Swain came into the 619 Barbershop on 30th Street about 10 a.m. Feb. 10.
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The stylist said Swain wanted a short haircut because her hair was damaged and also asked him to add some "lines” on one side of her head.
Luna said Swain didn’t talk much during the haircut and mumbled some things he couldn’t understand.
After the 45-minute appointment, Swain paid Luna $20 and gave him a $20 tip, he testified.
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"She seemed happy with the haircut,” Luna said through an interpreter.
The stylist said Swain returned to the barbershop about 20 to 30 minutes later as he was preparing to cut another customer’s hair.
What caught Luna’s attention was the fact that Swain didn’t have any hair where he had cut it, he testified.
Luna said Swain pulled a gun out of her purse and said "Look what you did to me.”
Swain pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger, but nothing came out, Luna said.
Swain told him, "Do you think I’m kidding?” and pulled the trigger for a second time, with the same result, Luna testified.
The defendant pulled the trigger a third time but the gun didn’t fire, and Swain turned to walk out while putting her hand on the gun, as if to load it, Luna said.
"When she started to walk out, I knocked her down,” the witness testified.
Luna said he and others held Swain down and got the gun away from her.
"She was yelling, `Shoot me in the head!”’ Luna testified.
San Diego police Detective Andrew Tafoya testified that he looked at the semiautomatic gun recovered after the incident and said it had a full magazine of 10 rounds but no round in the chamber.
An open gun case with ammunition was found in Swain’s SUV, which was running with the keys in the ignition just outside the barbershop.
Tafoya said Swain told him she had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Superior Court Judge Lorna Alksne ruled that enough evidence was presented during the preliminary hearing for Swain to stand trial. Arraignment was set for Aug. 11.
