Suspect in Oakland stabbings is homeless, as are some victims, police say
Surveillance video shows random Oakland stabbing attacks; 1 killed, 4 injured
New surveillance video shows two victims being attacked during a series of Oakland stabbings that left one man dead and four others injured Monday evening.
OAKLAND, Calif. - A man suspected in an apparently random series of stabbings that left one victim dead and four others hurt in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood is homeless, as are some of his victims, police said Tuesday.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was arrested by police with the help of witnesses, authorities said.
New surveillance videos of final attacks
Surveillance video obtained by KTVU shows a man in a white tank top approaching a woman walking on a sidewalk. The woman appears to move out of his way, but within seconds, the man begins stabbing her repeatedly.
The woman, bloodied on her face and hands, tries to get away.
Another camera angle shows a man appearing to flag down someone in an SUV as the suspect runs across the street. The person in the SUV then appears to direct a responding police car toward the suspect.
Officers ultimately arrested the suspect nearby at 39th Avenue and International Boulevard.
Video from moments before the attack on the woman shows a scooter passing the suspect on the sidewalk. As it goes by, the suspect appears to stab the person riding on the back.
"This was just unbelievable I've never seen someone get stabbed - it's like watching a movie or something," said Gil Alfonso, who works nearby. "I always look over my shoulder all the time I'm here."
Suspect and some victims in Oakland stabbing spree are homeless
A man was killed, and two men and two women were hurt in a stabbing spree in Oaklands Fruitvale neighborhood. Police arrested a homeless man with the help of witnesses. Some of the victims are also unhoused, police say.
Attacks were random, police say
What we know:
"So far, we do believe that they were random. We don't have any connection between the suspect and the victims," said Oakland police Capt. Gloria Beltran.
Oakland police on Tuesday thanked members of the community for helping officers locate the suspect.
The victims were three men and two women ranging in age from their 30s to their 50s.
Beltran said investigators are trying to determine a motive in the attacks.
"Unfortunately, five people were injured, one lost their life, so it's tragic, you know, on its own, but I feel like it could have been worse," Beltran said. "There's families in the park, heavily populated by families, so it could have absolutely been worse."
Deadly stabbing at park, victim ID'd
What they're saying:
The first stabbing was deadly. Gonsalo Lopez, 58, died after he was stabbed near a play structure at Cesar Chavez Park on Foothill Boulevard near Bridge Avenue at about 7:20 p.m. Monday, authorities said.
His family said it was a park he visited often. On Monday, he rode his bicycle there, which wasn't unusal.
Lopez's son, Kenny Romero, said the family learned of his father's death Tuesday morning.
"We just receive a call this morning with a police officer and they tell us our dad was die. That's really, really bad words we receive," said Romero.
Romero interpreted for his mother and Lopez's wife, Rosa Elena Villeda DeLopez, as she spoke with KTVU.
The family said Lopez had just returned from Honduras, where he visited their adopted teen daughter, Marbeli. One of his lifelong dreams was to bring her to the United States, his family said.
Lopez worked as a chef for many years, and his family said he would often bring home-cooked food to homeless people at Cesar Chavez Park.
"He was a really good person, he always liked to help a lot of people, even in Honduras, even out here, so that's why we feel really bad what happened last night, because now you say he was killed by homeless person, he always tried to help homeless person," said Romero.
On Tuesday, an officer could be seen interviewing people at the park, asking if they saw anything.
After Lopez was killed, the suspect ended up at a gas station at 38th Avenue and San Leandro Street.
Gonsalo Lopez, the victim killed in the Oakland stabbing spree. Photo provided by his family.
Gonsalo Lopez and his 15-year-old adopted daughter in Honduras.
Gonsalo Lopez and his 15-year-old adopted daughter in Honduras.
Gas-station attack caught on video
What we know:
Cell phone video that's been widely shared on social media shows the suspect repeatedly stabbing a man on the ground at the gas station.
The victim jumps up, bloodied, and runs to the mini-mart.
Dried blood spatter was still visible on the ground a day later.
From there, police say the suspect went to the Fruitvale BART station, where he allegedly stabbed another victim. BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin noted the train system is covered in surveillance cameras.
"We do have many cameras. Hundreds, if not a few thousand cameras within the BART system and trains, and so we always support investigations from outside agencies," Franklin said.
The suspect is also accused of stabbing two other victims near 39th Avenue and International Boulevard, including a woman walking on a sidewalk and a victim riding on the back of a moped.
Citizens pointed out the suspect nearby, and police arrested him less than an hour after the attacks began.
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by KTVU reporter Henry Lee who talked to Oakland police, BART police, as well as what is seen on surveillance video. KTVU's Betty Yu spoke to the family of the victim who was killed.