A homeless man was charged Friday with murder in a shocking random attack on a California father that has left the posh community reeling in fear.

Homeless man, Jamal Jackson, 49, stabbed 35-year-old father, Anthony Mele, in the neck as his 5-year-old daughter sat in his lap in Ventura CA., beach-side restaurant Aloha Steakhouse.

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Mele and his wife were eating dinner with their daughter Wednesday at Aloha Steakhouse in Ventura. The girl was sitting in her father’s lap when prosecutors say Jackson walked up and stabbed Mele in the neck. source

Patrons and a restaurant employee followed Jackson out of the restaurant, even though he still had the knife. They kept track of him until police arrived and arrested him, a report said.

Mele was taken to a hospital and died Thursday after being taken off life support.

Jackson was charged with first-degree murder. He was being held in Ventura County jail on a $1.5 million bail.

If convicted, Jackson faces up to 55 years in prison.