Within a five-day period, two people were killed and one critically injured near UC Davis by a 21-year-old former student who has been arrested, leaving the community in shock and fear.
On April 29th, 2021, the city of Davis, California, was rocked by a fatal stabbing at a local park. David Breaux, a 50-year-old man, was the first victim of a series of stabbings that occurred near the UC Davis campus over the course of five days. The second attack occurred the following day when UC Davis senior Karim Abou Najm was also fatally stabbed at a different park near the campus. The third and final attack happened on May 3rd, leaving a woman in critical condition.
The community was left in shock and fear following the attacks, which all took place within a span of five days. The local police department began an immediate investigation, and on May 5th, 21-year-old former UC Davis student Carlos Dominguez was arrested in connection to the stabbings. Dominguez was charged with two counts of homicide and one count of attempted murder.
Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel confirmed that all three stabbings were connected, and Dominguez was believed to be the sole perpetrator. Dominguez was a third-year student at UC Davis until April 25th, when he was expelled for academic reasons.
On Wednesday, May 5th, about 15 people called the police to report someone matching the suspect's description from the third attack near Sycamore Park. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Dominguez wearing the same clothing from the third attack and carrying a large knife. He was initially taken into custody for possessing the knife and later arrested in connection to the stabbings.
The community was left reeling in the aftermath of these attacks. UC Davis released a statement expressing their condolences to the families and friends of the victims and offering support to those who may have been impacted by the violence. The statement also emphasized the importance of looking out for one another and reporting any suspicious behaviour to authorities.
The motive for the stabbings remains unclear at this time, but the arrest of Dominguez provided some relief to the community and allowed the police to continue their investigation. As the case continues to unfold, authorities are urging anyone with information related to the attacks to come forward.
These tragic events serve as a reminder of the importance of community safety and the need to be vigilant in reporting suspicious behaviour. The community of Davis will undoubtedly take time to heal from these events, but the swift action of law enforcement in arresting the suspect will hopefully provide some sense of closure for the families and friends of the victims.
