Davis stabbings: woman attacked in tent is city's 3rd recent victim
DAVIS, Calif. - A woman is in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times through her tent Monday night, Davis police said.
This was the third stabbing in Davis in less than a week. The city issued a shelter in place warning after the stabbing, which has since been lifted.
Investigators said the woman was in a tent at a homeless camp when she was stabbed. Police spent much of the night going yard to yard searching for her attacker but did not make any arrests.
Many who live in the area are already on edge following two recent deadly stabbings, including one in a park that claimed the life of a UC Davis student
Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel and Mayor Will Arnold held a press conference regarding the stabbings Tuesday, and said this sort of violence has never happened in the city.
The victim of Monday night's stabbing called 911 for help and was able to provide a description of the suspect, Pytel said.
Additionally, he said there were four witnesses to her stabbing, and the description those witnesses gave of the suspect matches the description given in the second stabbing that killed the university student.
The suspect is described as a male who was wearing all dark clothing, possibly a blue shirt and jeans, carrying a black backpack and wearing black Adidas shoes with stripes.
Pytel said the first two stabbings that resulted in homicides were particularly violent, describing the stab wounds as very gruesome.
The chief recommended residents use a buddy system and be aware of their surroundings while going out in public until they find the suspect in the killings.
"We will hold and keep our families close, and I have held my family during this difficult time," said Arnold, the mayor. "This is an unprecedented time in our community."
Police said there is no indication the suspect knew the victims in each of the stabbings.
Pytel said they're working on a sketch of the suspect in the latest stabbing. Investigators are also hoping to obtain DNA evidence from what was collected from the crime scenes.
"You don’t really feel safe anymore, and that’s really, really disheartening, especially this city, where I was able to walk home every evening and feel safe and comfortable," said UC Davis student Gina Stevens. On Tuesday, UC Davis announced all classes every day after 6 p.m. will be virtual for now. The University is also adding more officers, additional security and is expanding its safe rides program for students.
"It's hard to sleep when you're scared for your life," said one resident who lives near the most recent incident.
"We started sleeping in groups because we don't want to be alone," said another.
KTVU's Brook's Jarosz contributed to this report.