A jury found a Potomac man guilty of nine charges related to a stabbing of two people in a Westfield Montgomery Mall parking lot last November.
David B. Goldberg, 25, was convicted on Wednesday of attempted voluntary manslaughter, second degree assault, three counts of first degree assault and other charges stemming from the apparent road rage incident on Nov. 14 in the parking lot near the Macy’s entrance to the mall.
Goldberg faces up to 165 years in prison, according to the county state’s attorney’s office. His sentencing is set for Dec. 18.
“People are entitled to feel safe driving in a shopping mall parking lot,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy said in a press release. “Mr. Goldberg escalated what might have otherwise been a minor traffic dispute to a violent resolution. This verdict sends a strong message that road rage will not be tolerated in our community and just as importantly people who commit violent crimes will face the consequences of their actions. If you try to run over omen or stab them because of your temper or road rage you will be prosecuted. We look forward to a strong sentence on December 18.”
Police said Goldberg and the victims could be heard shouting expletives at each other before the stabbing happened. The argument stemmed from Goldberg’s vehicle almost hitting the victim’s vehicle at a stop sign on the ring road that circles the mall.
According to the police account of the incident, victims Rachel Peterson and her boyfriend Clifton Botts, both of Potomac, followed Goldberg and got out of their car to approach Goldberg in his Mitsubishi, but Goldberg sped off.
After the couple parked in a nearby lot and started walking to the Sears store with Peterson’s mother and child, the victims heard Goldberg racing toward them in his car.
Goldberg hit a parked car in the process, according to court documents, before again arguing with Botts and stabbing Botts in the upper back, left cheek and right bicep. Goldberg reportedly stabbed Peterson in the stomach as she was trying to break up the fight, sending her to the hospital with serious injuries.
Police said Goldberg then fled to the top of a nearby parking deck, where he was taken into custody and where police found a five-inch a folding knife which they believed to be the weapon.
Goldberg’s two-year-old daughter was in his car the whole time, police said.
Goldberg was charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder, two counts of attempted second degree murder and seven counts of first degree assault.
He was convicted instead on assault and attempted voluntary manslaughter charges. The assault charges stem from the stabbing and from Goldberg’s attempts to run the victims over.
Photo via Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office
