The person charged in three stabbings in a California college town was a college student who was «separated» from school two days before the first attack, police and college officials said Thursday.
Two people were killed and a third injured in stabbings in parks in Davis, which is the home of the University of California, Davis, since April 27.
Carlos Dominguez, 21, was detained Thursday at a park where the second murder occurred, and was arrested Friday on two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel said.
The stabbings left the city of 66,800 west of Sacramento on edge. The violence prompted UC Davis to switch evening classes to remote classes.
The police received more than 500 tips. More than a dozen people called Wednesday after seeing a man matching a suspect’s description at the park where one of the attacks occurred, leading to the arrest, Pytel said.
The dead were David Henry Breaux, 50, and UC Davis student Karim Abou-Najm, 20, police said. A woman was stabbed and seriously injured.
A reason is being investigated. Police said they have no information that Dominguez knew any of the victims, but they are still investigating.
“These crimes were horrible. They are hard to imagine,” Pytel said.
Dominguez, who was a UC Davis student until last week, has lived in Davis for the past two years, Pytel said. He enrolled in 2020 and majored in biological sciences, the university said.
Dominguez was a junior until April 25, «when he was separated for academic reasons,» UC Davis said in a statement.
The first fatal stabbing was reported around 11:20 a.m. on April 27, when officers responded to a welfare check request in the city’s Central Park. Breaux, who is homeless, was found hunched over a bench with «very significant» stab wounds, Pytel previously told reporters.
Two days later, on Saturday, Abou-Najm died from injuries sustained in a stabbing near Sycamore Park around 9:14 p.m., Pytel said.
Both were stabbed «many times,» he said.
The third stabbing occurred around 11:36 p.m. Monday. A homeless woman had gone to sleep in a tent when someone stabbed her through and then walked up and started stabbing her, Pytel said.
The woman was able to call 911 and survived, but suffered serious injuries and underwent surgery, authorities said.
Back-to-back stabbings prompted pleas from police for residents to stay vigilant, and UC Davis officials moved to hold evening classes online rather than in person. The school also added extra security at night, Chancellor Gary May Announced.
Both the victim of Monday’s hack and a witness to Saturday’s attack provided authorities with descriptions of the attacker.
Witnesses seeing someone matching the description in Sycamore Park Wednesday afternoon led to Dominguez’s arrest, police said. About 15 people in the area called the police.
«One of the callers said, ‘I’m following you right now,’ and he was able to lead us to the person,» Pytel said.
Dominguez was wearing the same clothing as the description police released after the third attack, Pytel said, and had a backpack containing a large «hunting-style» knife.
Dominguez was initially arrested for the knife, and was arrested on murder and attempted murder charges Thursday afternoon, police said.
The Yolo County District Attorney will review the case and decide on formal charges.
Police said investigators have blood and fiber evidence, and also said the investigation is ongoing. The victims are believed to have fought back and Dominguez had some injuries to his hands and wrists, Pytel said.
A phone number related to Dominguez or anyone associated with him could not immediately be found. It was not clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
University of California at Davis I saida declaration He was fully cooperating with investigators Thursday and would share further updates with the campus community as they become available.
“We are grateful for law enforcement’s quick response and resolve during an extremely difficult period for the city and campus,” he said.