Davis, California, knife attacks: 3rd stabbing in a week leaves college campus on edge - CNN
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
(CNN) Officials in Davis, California, have lifted an overnight shelter-in-place order after they were unable to find a suspect in a knife attack late Monday -- the third such incident following two fatal stabbings in less than a week near the campus of University of California, Davis.
The startling advice for students not to venture out followed the killings Saturday evening of a UC Davis senior and Thursday of a 50-year-old man at different parks near campus. About 40,000 students are enrolled at the public university in Davis, a city of some 68,000 people about a 20-minute drive west of the state capital, Sacramento.
College student killed at California park in the area's 2nd stabbing death this week, police say
Police received a call about the third stabbing at 11:46 p.m. Monday, according to a news release from the city, which said the attack "occurred in a known transient camp" around 2nd and L streets.
The female victim told police the suspect stabbed her more than once through a tent, the release said. She was taken to UC Davis Medical Center, where she was in critical condition.
Officers from the Davis Police Department did not locate the suspect after a "detailed search" overnight of downtown, the department said in a statement. The shelter-in-place order was being lifted, but residents were urged to "continue to be aware of your surroundings."
City officials described the suspect as a man with curly hair, a thin build and a light complexion between 5-foot-6 and -9 inches tall. He was wearing a black or blue sweatshirt, black pants with white stripes and was carrying a brown backpack.
"The suspect matches the description of previous stabbing incidents," campus police said early Tuesday as they announced the shelter-in-place alert shortly after the latest attack.
The suspect in Saturday's deadly knife attack is believed to be a "light-skinned male, possibly Hispanic," between 19 and 23 years old and between 5-foot-7 and -8 inches tall with long curly hair, city police in Davis, California, said Sunday in a news release.
A University of California, Davis, senior was stabbed to death Saturday evening at a park near campus.
The FBI has joined state and local law enforcement in a manhunt for the suspect.
Extra officers were being deployed to patrol around schools and parks, the Davis Police Department said Sunday, adding it "understands the uncertainty, fear and panic that is arising in the community."
"At this time, it is strongly recommended that the community remain vigilant, be aware of your surroundings, and call the Davis Police Department if anyone acting violent, suspicious or matching the description provided is seen," police said.
UC Davis student Brayden Chipman, a classmate of the victim in Saturday's killing, told CNN affiliate KCRA prior to the third stabbing that the rash of attacks was worrying.
"Definitely a bit concerning, because you never hear of this stuff happening here. It's seen as like a safe community," Chipman said. "It's just really sad that a lot of students are just now fearing for their lives."
Kristin Mifsud, another student, echoed that, telling CNN affiliate KOVR, "Murders don't really happen here."
"Everyone's really scared," Mifsud said. "I have seen a lot on social media that no one even wants to go to school."
Extra patrols also were being added on campus and the UC Davis Police Safe Rides Program, which offers free rides and walking escorts to students on campus after dark, would expand, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May announced Sunday, calling the student's death "deeply unsettling."
UC Davis Police announced Monday evening the school had enlisted additional personnel through a private Sacramento-based security firm.
A community mourns
Authorities Monday were still probing the deaths of UC Davis computer science student Karim Abou Najm at Sycamore Park and David Breaux at nearby Central Park. Tips had led to some arrests "on unrelated charges or outstanding warrants, although none of these individuals have been linked to the murders," city police said.
"Although there are common factors between these two brutal crimes, such as the brutal nature of the crimes and that the suspect likely used a knife, there are no known connections between the victims; investigators are still determining whether the incidents are linked," they said.
Police work the scene of a stabbing in Davis on Thursday.
Abou Najm's family told KCRA the 20-year-old was coming home from an undergraduate award ceremony when he was killed.
"I want this to be his memory: a bundle of energy, a bundle of positivity," Majdi Abou Najm said of his son. "Someone who was full of ambition, proud of his roots, who just wanted to make this world a better place."
Karim Abou Najm was was stabbed to death Saturday evening at a local park just days after a similar incident nearby, according to UC Davis and city officials.
The computer science major had a bright future ahead of him, according to Chipman, one of his classmates, who said Abou Najm "had a lot of opportunities, research, internships."
"Someone got robbed of their future," Chipman told the affiliate. "It's just heartless, people doing things like that. Seeing someone that I know, it's just felt a little deeply. It's really sad."
Breaux, the first attack victim, was a fixture in the community known as "Compassion Guy," according to a statement from the mayor and City Council that said he regularly asked passersby about their views on compassion.
"The death of David Breaux is utterly and completely devastating," Davis Mayor Will Arnold said. "Many of us knew David. We talked with him. We shared in his vision for a kinder world. We connected on what it means to be human and humane."
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My daughter and son-in-law live there while my daughter gets her Ph.D. at Davis and I have to tell you that before I just if I hated her moving to Cali for 5 years, now I am scared out of my mind.
I'm sorry that you are going to worry and stress until this killer is caught. I think that the university did the right thing by asking students to remain indoors while increasing campus patrols, walking escorts and campus transportation.
Thanks, Drinker for your kind words and I agree that the university did the right thing.
Fight Club West?
Yes, Perrie, California is a real shit hole.
I think its more a matter of Perrie missing her daughter than it is she has something against california.
I never said that. I don't even get your comment. My only regret is that she is 3,000 miles away.
I was really surprised that you were so fearful of your daughter living in California. I'm used to others here bagging on California any chance they get. Seemed like you were doing the same, sorry.
Pat,
I was just fearful and still am since there is a nut out there. Nuts happen everywhere.
But no biggie. Davis is actually very nice. It's an Aggie town.
I have cousins who live in Davis, and, as you know, it is usually a very quiet and safe town. Until this guy is caught it would definitely be best not to be out alone.
Davis is quite nice and I know that nothing like this has happened in a very long time. It never entered my mind that something like this could happen.
It's a terrible thing. Sadly, it can happen anywhere.
True enough
Sounds like the attacks are off campus. Maybe she should avoid going out and about until they catch the guy. Go to class or work, and then go home.
The parks are actually part of campus as nature walks that lead to buildings, one of which is my daughter's research center. My understanding is that everyone right now is traveling in groups and are just staying away from remote areas.
Has anyone yet suggested a ban on knives? Or at least a waiting period or background check?
How about making stabbing illegal?
I'm not amused.
That's great, as it was not intended to be amusing.
Well since you went there.....
Here is the math:
Firearms:11,475 deaths vs
Knives and cutting 1,035
That would be 11 times more by firearms.
Just fyi.
facts and statistics won't help you...
Well, that's great you posted some info.
Why, I don't know, I never disputed any gun stats or knife stats.
What with the rash of knifings there, and the current climate that calls for action every single time someone gets killed by a gun, I was just wondering where all the usual outrage was.
The outrage is proportionate to the number of deaths.
Oh, ok.
I didn't know that outrage only depended on the number of victims instead of the type and severity of crime.
Good to know, thanks.
Death is death.
So now you know.
He could be a serial killer and the knife, versus a firearm might be needed for his psychological gratification.
Some prefer strangulation, some guns, others bludgeoning and in this case a knife. Stabbing someone is more personal than shooting someone.
Absolutely, whether killed by a drunk driver, a shooter, or any other means perpetuated by someone, the loss is the same.
yes it is!
And now I know that outrage is predicated on the number of victims, not the hideousness of the actual crime. Thank you for that.
Look, I'm not going to play games with you. All murder is hideousness. Now please take these kinds of comments elsewhere.
Do you mean comments you don't agree with?
No I mean trolling. And since you are still at it, leave.
Not to be ghoulish, but if he was using a gun it is likely much more than 3 or 4 people would be dead or injured now.
Exactly and that is very comforting to the loved ones of the victims.
Never let a tragedy go to waste. Didn't fellow Chicagoan, Rahm Emanuel say something like that?
I was responding to someone else's comment.
Take a hike.
Sadly, it has become a liberal mantra.
I suppose with so many crises going on, and blaming Covid and Putin can only go so far [deleted]
You failed to make that clear.
Thanks, I'm now up to 4 miles after surgery.
A ridiculous rationalization. No way you could know that.
Interestingly with all the recent wailing and gnashing of teeth to ban AR type weapons, we hear little about handgun deaths, which are significantly higher. So are deaths caused by edged weapons like knives.
If Scrooge were alive in America today: "Are there no guns, no AR-15s for the murders? Then the victims would die and decrease the surplus population. Bah, humbug."