Simi Valley Man Found Competent to Stand Trial in Premeditated Attempted Murder Case Following Target Store Strangulation Attack

VENTURA, Calif. — Criminal proceedings have formally resumed against a Simi Valley man accused of attempting to murder a woman inside a crowded retail store after a Superior Court judge determined he is mentally competent to stand trial, prosecutors announced.

Click here to view the official Ventura County District Attorney's Office press release regarding the competency finding for Rejean Morgan Tabor.

The judicial competency ruling was announced by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko following a specialized court hearing held on September 10, 2026.

Authorities identified the defendant as 35-year-old Rejean Morgan Tabor (born June 26, 1991), a resident of Simi Valley.

Tabor is facing prosecution under Ventura County Superior Court case number 2026015965, which includes felony attempted premeditated murder alongside multiple misdemeanor assault and battery counts. He remains incarcerated at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with bail set at $750,000.

Violent Target Store Attack and Assaults on Good Samaritans

According to official court documents and prosecution summaries released by the District Attorney's Office, the violent incident occurred on June 17, 2026, inside the Target department store located in Simi Valley.

Investigators report that Tabor approached an adult female shopper from behind without warning or provocation. Tabor allegedly wrapped his arms around the victim's neck and began strangling her while forcibly covering her nose and mouth to prevent her from breathing or crying out for help.

As the life-threatening attack unfolded in the middle of the store, several alert shoppers and bystanders immediately rushed to intervene.

Tabor allegedly turned his aggression onto the Good Samaritans who attempted to pull him off the victim:

• First Good Samaritan: A woman attempting to pull Tabor away was violently shoved to the concrete floor.
• Second Good Samaritan: A shopper who successfully helped free the female victim was bitten, struck, and scratched by Tabor during the physical struggle.
• Loss Prevention Staff: After the primary victim escaped, Tabor allegedly picked up a glass bottle and hurled it at a Target loss prevention employee.
• Teenage Customer: Tabor then allegedly turned and attacked a 16-year-old minor from behind.

Patrol officers from the Simi Valley Police Department swarmed the retail store and took Tabor into custody on the retail floor before additional customers could be harmed.

Release from Custody Hours Prior and Prosecution Details

Court records revealed a troubling timeline, indicating that the violent rampage occurred less than 24 hours after Tabor had been released from law enforcement custody on mandatory supervision. Tabor had just completed serving his sentence in two separate, unrelated Ventura County criminal cases prior to his release.

Following his arrest, criminal proceedings were temporarily suspended to allow court-appointed medical experts to evaluate Tabor's mental competency under the California Penal Code.

The court’s September 10 competency finding establishes that Tabor understands the nature of the criminal charges against him and can rationally assist his defense counsel, allowing the prosecution to proceed.

"The court’s September 10, 2026, competency finding allows the criminal case to move forward. Tabor remains in custody with bail set at $750,000," the Ventura County District Attorney's Office stated in an official public advisory.

"The alleged attack occurred less than 24 hours after Tabor was released from custody on mandatory supervision following his completed sentencing in two separate Ventura County criminal cases," prosecutors added.

Tabor is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sean Brunton of the District Attorney’s Office General Trials Unit on the following formal charges:

• PC 664/187(a) & PC 189(a): Attempted Murder — Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated (Felony)
• Two Counts of PC 242: Battery (Misdemeanor)
• PC 240: Assault (Misdemeanor)
• PC 273a(b): Cruelty to a Child by Inflicting Injury (Misdemeanor)

An early disposition hearing is scheduled for October 8, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court. Official press briefings can be reviewed directly on the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Newsroom.

Sources

• Ventura County District Attorney's Office Official Press Release (Release No. 26-127)