NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. » Authorities say a Northern California woman died after a man she had approached slashed her throat from behind as she headed back to her vehicle.

Sacramento County Coroner’s officials identified the victim Thursday as 32-year-old Nichole Riolo of North Highlands.

The Sacramento Bee reports Juan V. Avalos of Sacramento is suspected in the killing and has been booked into Sacramento County Jail.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s investigators believe the woman was driving in North Highlands when Avalos caught her attention as he walked in the roadway.

Officials say Riolo got out of her car and approached the 28-year-old man but he started acting belligerent. She headed back to her car and Avalos attacked her from behind. Riolo stumbled into a parking lot where she was pronounced dead Wednesday night.