After two plainclothes police officers from New York came to the aid of a tourist attacked with a knife Wednesday at a popular Hollywood destination, the suspect was identified by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspected attacker, identified as Donald Monroe Offerman, 54, of LA, appeared to be a transient, according to the LAPD.

He was booked on suspicion of felony attempted murder, LAPD said. He was being held on $500,000 bond at the LAPD Hollywood Station.

LAPD also said he had a "criminal history," including previously being jailed on citizen's arrest for a 2014 misdemeanor.

The victim is a visitor from Russia traveling with his wife and children, said LAPD Capt. Pete Zarcone.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the confrontation.

The attack occurred about 1:10 p.m. in the central, open-air courtyard of the Hollywood & Highland Center that is a magnet for tourists.

Many were in the area, and some had cameras out in time to record the plainclothes officers, at least one with gun drawn, taking down the suspect.

On one video, a young girl feet away can be seen reacting in horror.

The New York Police officers had traveled to Los Angeles to work a case and were on duty, NYPD said.

The injured man, with wounds to his head and throat, was hospitalized in stable condition, and is expected to recover, said Capt. Zarcone.