Davis, California – The Davis Police Department announced on Thursday that it arrested a former University of California, Davis (UC Davis) student as the suspect in three recent stabbings that occurred near the school in the span of only five days.
The suspect has been identified as Carlos Dominguez, 21. He had been a student at UC Davis until two weeks ago, reports the Sacramento Bee, but was separated from the school for “academic reasons” two days before the first stabbing happened, reports CNN. Authorities do not believe he had a criminal record.
The latest stabbing happened May 1. In total, two male victims were killed, and a woman was critically injured.
The two male victims have been identified as Karim Abou Najm, 20, and David Henry Breaux, 50. Najm, who was a UC Davis student, was fatally stabbed as he was walking home from an undergraduate award ceremony. The female victim has been identified as Kimberlee Guillory, who was stabbed multiple times as she slept in a tent on a street corner.
Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel characterized Dominguez as a “serial killer.” Police say during the attacks some of the victims fought back, injuring Dominguez. Pytel says investigators believe all three stabbings are connected.
Dominguez was apprehended on Wednesday after 15 separate callers contacted police to report seeing a man matching the suspect’s physical description near a park. One of the callers followed Dominguez and led police officers to him.
The motive for the suspect’s alleged crimes is under investigation, and Pytel said investigators don’t know if he was planning other stabbings.
Prior to Dominguez’s arrest, the UC Davis community was on edge. Security on campus as well as in the surrounding area was bolstered and students were urged to be vigilant. Evening classes were rescheduled or switched to virtual. Some local businesses and restaurants closed early.
