How Alex Murdaugh Changed His Story on Housekeeper’s Death

Killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who murdered his wife and son, has now admitted that he lied about the mysterious death of his housekeeper.

The 54-year-old patriarch, the scion of a powerful legal dynasty, fatally shot his wife Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and their 22-year-old son Paul Murdaugh in June 2021, at their home in Colleton County.

He is currently appealing the convictions that saw him sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, but questions are now being asked about three other deaths of people close to the Murdaughs—including two friends of his children, and the family’s long-time housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, who died following an incident at their other home in Moselle in 2018.

The 57-year-old, a mom-of-two who had worked for the family for around 20 years, was reportedly discovered in the grounds by Maggie Murdaugh suffering from serious injuries. The family said their employee had fallen down some steps outside the house.

Booking Photo of Richard Alexander Murdaugh

Alex Murdaugh is accused of stealing almost $4 million in insurance money that was meant to go to Satterfield’s sons after her death.

Nautilus Insurance Group has launched a federal lawsuit against Murdaugh in a bid to recover the money, after $3.8 million was paid to him in a wrongful death judgement.

A recording of Murdaugh discussing the tragedy with insurance adjuster Bryant McGowan before the payout showed he had claimed to have had a conversation with the dying woman before she was taken to hospital. “She indicated that the dogs had caused her to fall [down the stairs],” he said.

That conversation was a lie, Murdaugh admitted this week.

In documents relating to the case, obtained by NBC News on Monday, Murdaugh now says “no dogs were involved” in the incident. He said he “invented” the scenario “to force his insurers to make a settlement payment.”

He even suggested that the bereaved Satterfield family should be included in the lawsuit with him, according to local news channel WYFF 4—a ploy one of the family’s lawyers, Ronnie Richter, dismissed as part of his “continued attacks on the Satterfield family.”

The family’s other lawyer, Eric Bland, went further.

“It’s just more spin by him,” Bland told WYFF 4. “He doesn’t tell you where the money went—the $3.8 million. He doesn’t tell you how Gloria died. It’s just almost a perversion of the justice system to suggest that the Satterfield family be victimized again… It’s very convenient that the three people who could support or contradict Alex are all dead; Paul, Maggie and Gloria.”

Initially dismissed as a tragic accident, Satterfield’s case has now been reopened after the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division began looking into her death in 2021.

The renewed interest came after Hampton County coroner Angela Topper asked law enforcement officials to investigate because she discovered that Satterfield’s death was not reported to the coroner and she did not undergo an autopsy.

She was also concerned that the death was described as “natural” on the death certificate, which is unusual for an accident.

Authorities announced they had received permission from Satterfield’s family to exhume her body for testing, should it prove necessary.

The investigation into Satterfield’s death continues but no charges have been brought against anyone.

Alex Murdaugh is facing a string of other fraud charges after being accused of stealing more than $6million from his clients.

Original Article

Representative George Santos in Custody on 13 Federal Charges (VIDEO)

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is in custody Wednesday after being indicted on 13 federal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.

The charges comprise seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. 

He is in custody at the federal courthouse on Long Island, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Santos will be arraigned at approximately 1 p.m.

Santos’s surrender came one day after reports surfaced that federal prosecutors had filed criminal charges against the congressman. The charges, however, remained unsealed until Wednesday morning.

The New York Republican has been the subject of intense scrutiny since before he was sworn in amid questions about his resume and biography.

A number of entities are said to be looking into him, in addition to the House Ethics Committee, which launched an investigation in March.

Several lawmakers from both parties have been calling for the congressman to resign, a number of whom reupped that stance after news surfaced of the charges against him.

Original Article

Texas Mall Shooting Survivor Credits Store Worker Who Hid Shoppers in Closet (VIDEO)

A mom-of-two who survived the Texas mall shooting has emotionally recalled how a sales associate hid her and 12 others inside a store bathroom – but later lost her life in the bloodbath.

Raquel Lee said she decided to go shopping Saturday at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen and parked outside of the H&M store shortly before Mauricio Garcia, 33, drove up and opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle, killing eight people and wounding seven others, CBS News Texas reported.

“It sounded like a war zone,” Lee told the news outlet. “It was horrifying and it felt like you were in a dream. Like, just shock.”

Lee shared chilling video of the group sheltering in place inside the storage room, where they are seen making frantic phone calls and sitting on the floor.

“We were in a bathroom closet, and we were just in the closet trying not be heard, crying, praying — people were trying to call 911. We couldn’t dial out,” the visibly emotional woman said.

“I just remember thinking, ‘Oh god! He’s coming in here next.’ I was crouching down like ‘I hope we don’t get hit by a bullet,” Lee told the outlet about the harrowing experience.

“The store associate saved our lives,” she added.

The footage she captured shows the group finally being led out of the room with their hands up after police cleared the bloody scene.

Lee said one of the bodies she saw was that of the heroic store employee.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW (Warning Distresing Content):

Two of the dead victims have been identified as 20-year-old security guard Christian LaCour and Aishwarya Thatikonda, an engineer from India who was living and working in Texas.

The feds are investigating whether Garcia, who was shot dead by a police officer, held neo-Nazi views.

During the rampage, Garcia wore a patch on his chest with the acronym “RWDS” which stands for “Right Wing Death Squad” – a popular phrase among white-supremacy groups, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

Original Article

Update on Texas Mall Shooting That Killed 9

Nine people were killed and at least seven others injured when a gunman opened fire at a Texas outdoor mall Saturday afternoon, according to authorities.

The gunman, who was killed by police, was one of seven people who died at the Allen Premium Outlets, a mall north of Dallas, according to the Allen Police Department. Nine people were transferred to the hospital after the shooting, where two later died, three remain in critical condition, and four others were stable, Allen Fire Department Chief Jonathan Boyd said Saturday evening during a press conference.

In a statement after the tragedy, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered “full support” to local officials.

“Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” Abbott said

What happened?

More than three dozen shots were heard at around 3:36 p.m, alarming bystanders and an Allen Police Department officer that was near the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas.

Hundreds of shoppers fled the scene on Saturday after a gunman got out of a silver sedan before opening fire at the mall, causing families to seek safety in back hallways, behind cars and in storage areas. The gunman was killed by an Allen Police Department police officer shortly after. A photo obtained by CNN shows the suspect lying on the ground with an AR-15 and extra firearm magazines. The shooter has not been identified by authorities, but they believe he acted alone.

The names of the victims have not yet been released, though reports from witnesses allege that there were children, a police officer, and a mall security guard unconscious at the shopping center, AP reports.

“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” Fontayne Payton, a 35-year-old H&M worker told the AP. “It broke me when I walked out to see that.”

The hospitalized individuals range in age from 5 to 61, authorities said.

“This is a tragedy. People will be looking for answers,” Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said during a press conference. “We’re sorry that those families are experiencing that loss.”

The shooting is still under investigation, and the FBI is asking the public for any information connected with the tragedy. The shooting comes less than a week after another gunman opened fire on his neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, after they asked him to stop firing his gun in his front yard, killing 5 people, including a 9-year-old boy.

Response to the shooting

The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation and that they are “closely monitoring the situation” and in contact with state and local officials.

“We are devastated by the tragic news of the shootings that took place at the Allen Premium Outlets today. Our prayers are with the victims and their families and all law enforcement on the scene,” tweeted Texas Rep. Keith Self on Saturday.

Allen Mayor Ken Fulk called the shooting a “tragic day” for the city, saying that he wants the victims and families to know that the community “will wrap our arms around you” and offered full support. He thanked the fire and police department for their rapid response to neutralize the threat. “We know the days ahead will be difficult and somber,” he said. “On behalf of the city council, our law enforcement personnel, first responders and all of our city employees – we will remain strong and stand united.”

Sen. Ted Cruz said that he and his wife were praying for the victims, and for the community that is in “shock from this tragedy.”

“My team is in contact with local officials, and I have offered whatever support is needed to do justice and help those in need,” he tweeted. “Thank you to the incredible law enforcement who put a stop to the monster who committed this act of evil.”

A vigil for the victims will be at the Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen at 6 p.m Sunday.

Original Article: https://time.com/6277841/texas-mall-shooting/

Man Murders Mother-in-Law with ‘Large Sword’

A52-year-old has been accused of murder after allegedly killing his mother-in-law in a violent attack with a large sword.

The alleged incident happened on April 28 in Puna, a town situated near the eastern edge of Hawaii’s largest island. Around 1:40 p.m. local time, officers from the Hawaii Police Department were called to a home in an Orchidland Estates neighborhood following reports of a disturbance.

Upon arriving at the residence, police reportedly found Christopher Roy Howlind in need of medical attention with injured hands and a bloodied shirt. A large sword was found near Howlind covered in blood.

While medical assistance was being called for Howlind, the continued search of the residence turned up the dead body of 58-year-old Teri Lynn Apple, who had “severe knife wounds to her neck, upper body, arms, and hands,” according to the police report. Following this discovery, Howlind was arrested and charged with the murder of Apple, later determined to be his mother-in-law. An autopsy completed on Tuesday confirmed that she had died as a result of the wounds and ruled her death a homicide.

Howlind was booked into a cellblock at the nearby Hilo Police Station but was later rushed to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room after vomiting and becoming unresponsive. According to a report, the medical incident at the cellblock was the result of the suspect drinking a liquid chemical substance prior to police arriving at this residence.

Due to the need for medical treatment, Howlind was temporarily released from police custody on Sunday but was later taken back in on Thursday. He currently faces a charge of second-degree murder, with his bail being set at $1 million. The charge carries the potential for a life sentence with the possibility of parole. A statement from Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen confirmed that the suspect made his first appearance in court on Friday.

The details about what sort of situation may have led Howlind to allegedly assault his mother-in-law with a deadly weapon have not been disclosed at this time. Newsweek reached out to the Hawaii Police Department via email for comment.

A similar incident occurred last summer in the resort neighborhood of Waikiki, when 46-year-old 7-Eleven worker Jason Walker allegedly attacked a 51-year-old man outside the convenience store with a sword, cutting off the victim’s left hand in the process. Walker was later charged with second-degree attempted murder, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Christopher Howlin via Hawai’i Police

Britain Slammed for Anti-Monarchy Protesters Arrests Ahead of King Charles’ Coronation (VIDEO)

Several anti-monarchy protesters were arrested in central London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, their group has said, as the Metropolitan Police force faces scrutiny for its approach toward demonstrators at the historic event.

Thousands gathered in central London on Saturday to celebrate the once-in-a-generation event. But it also drew demonstrators, with protesters wearing yellow T-shirts booing and shouting “Not My King” throughout the morning.

Republic, Britain’s largest anti-monarchy group, told reporters that police – without providing any reason – arrested organizers of the anti-monarchy protest.

At around 7 a.m. (2 a.m. ET) police stopped six of Republic’s organizers and told them they were detaining and searching them, Republic director Harry Stratton told reporters at the protest.

Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, was among those detained, according to a video shared by the Alliance of European Republican Movements.

Protesters hold signs reading "Not My King" and "Abolish the Monarchy" close to the procession.

Stratton said that when the organizers asked police why they were being detained, they were told officers “would figure it out” after they had searched the anti-monarchy protesters. After searching them, police told the six organizers they were arresting and seizing hundreds of their placards carrying the slogan “Not My King.”

“They didn’t say why they were arresting them. They didn’t tell them or us where they were taking them. It really is like something out of a police state,” Stratton said.

“I think people are quite perturbed by the police reaction. But the crowd reaction to us has been overwhelmingly friendly,” he added.

The group posted on Twitter Saturday, commenting: “So much for the right to peaceful protest.”

Members of environmental activist group Just Stop Oil also appeared to have been arrested on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, the UK’s PA Media news agency reported, adding that a large group of the protesters were seen in handcuffs.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed several arrests had been made in central London.

“Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” the force tweeted.

“We have made a number of arrests in the area of Carlton House Terrace. The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace,” the Met continued. “A further three people were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch. They were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage.”

Human Rights Watch, a non-profit campaign group, said the coronation arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow not London,” according to a statement obtained by PA Media..

Republic claimed it was expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 people to join the group at its protest in Trafalgar Square, just south of the royal procession route.

“Instead of a coronation we want an election. Instead of Charles we want a choice. It’s that simple,” the group tweeted on Saturday.

Growing police powers

The Metropolitan Police, the UK’s largest police force, has been scrutinized for its tough approach toward protests around the coronation.

“Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low,” the force wrote on Twitter this week. “We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration.”

Ahead of the event, the Met said that morpe than 11,500 police officers would be deployed in London on Saturday, making the coronation the largest one-day deployment in decades.

The operation – labeled Golden Orb – saw officers line the processional route, manage crowds and road closures, protect high-profile individuals and carry out searches with specialist teams.

There are also plans for facial recognition technology to be used in central London, which has sparked criticism from human rights groups.

Demonstrators gathered in central London on Saturday.

“We all have the right to go about our lives without being watched and monitored, but everyone at the coronation is at risk of having their faces scanned by oppressive facial recognition technology,” Emmanuelle Andrews of human rights group Liberty, said on Twitter.

The operation comes amid growing concern over the increase in the police’s power to stifle dissent in Britain, following the recent introduction of controversial pieces of legislation.

Last year, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 significantly “broaden[ed] the range of circumstances in which police may impose conditions on a protest.” Under the new Act, it is an offense for protesters to “intentionally or recklessly caus[e] public nuisance” – including causing “serious annoyance.”

In a statement, Liberty said this Act “has made it much harder for people to stand up for what they believe without facing the risk of criminalization.”

On Tuesday, a new law called the Public Order Act received royal assent from King Charles, which is a formality and the final hurdle before a bill becomes law.

It will “give police the powers to prevent disruption at major sporting and cultural events taking place this summer in England and Wales,” the UK Home Office said in a statement.

Specific measures in the Act were introduced from Wednesday.

Under this law, long-standing protest tactics such as locking on – where protesters physically attach themselves to things like buildings – could lead to a six-month prison sentence or “unlimited fine,” said the Home Office.

Original Article

Multiple Victims in Stabbing Near University of Iowa

A suspect remains on the loose hours after several individuals were stabbed near the University of Iowa campus.

Authorities said in the early morning hours of Saturday that they responded to a fight in the 300 Block of S Gilbert Street in the early morning hours of Saturday. Campus police first issued an alert shortly after 2am when a victim was stabbed at a nearby gas station, telling students half an hour later that multiple people had been attacked.

“Multiple victims confirmed. Police are searching for a suspect,” the University of Iowa Police Department said on Twitter.

The victims, three men who apparently knew each other, are recovering in the hospital.

Police said there is no threat to the public but an investigation continues.

Authorities at the University of Iowa said that there is no longer a threat to the public.

However, an update on Saturday morning said that several individuals fled the scene after the stabbing.

Authorities first issued an alert shortly after 2am after responding to a large fight in the 300 Block of S Gilbert Street. Students were told half an hour later to avoid the area as multiple people had been attacked and several others fled the scene.

The victims, whose ages are not immediately available but were described as young, are receiving treatment at the University of Iowa Hospital.

“Multiple victims confirmed. Police are searching for a suspect,” the University of Iowa Police Department said on Twitter.

Campus police said in a later update on Saturday that the fight was among parties known to each other and that there is no direct threat to the general public.

Billionaire Pays $60M for Jeffrey Epstein’s Islands

After more than a year on the market, Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Caribbean islands have finally found a buyer: Stephen Deckoff, founder of private equity firm Black Diamond Capital Management, has purchased the two islands for $60 million, less than half of their initial asking price of $125 million.

Deckoff plans to develop a 25-room luxury resort on the property, he said Wednesday, adding that he never met Epstein and never set foot on the islands until they were marketed following Epstein’s 2019 death.

“I’ve been proud to call the U.S. Virgin Islands home for more than a decade and am tremendously pleased to be able to bring the area a world-class destination benefitting its natural grace and beauty,” Deckoff tells Forbes.

“I very much look forward to working with the U.S. Virgin Islands to make this dream a reality.”

The property, which spans the 70-plus-acre Little St. James and 160-plus-acre Great St. James islands, is located just off the shores of tourism hub St. Thomas and already boasts a helipad, multiple pools and several guest villas.

Deckoff is in the process of recruiting architects and engineers to work on developing the resort, which he plans to open in about two years.

Epstein’s ownership has cast a dark shadow over the islands, despite the natural beauty of their palm tree-dotted beaches and crystal clear water.

The disgraced financier purchased Little St. James in 1998 for a reported $8 million. He lived in a large mansion there and constructed several bizarre structures on the property, which has been dubbed “pedophile island” for its role in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.

Alleged victim Virginia Giuffre has claimed that Prince Andrew, Duke of York, raped her on Little St. James (a claim Buckingham Palace has denied).

Epstein bought the neighboring Great St. James, which is largely undeveloped, in 2016 for a reported $22.5 million.

He died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while facing federal charges for trafficking minors in Florida and New York. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was found guilty of child sex trafficking in December 2021 for her role in helping Epstein procure underage girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Epstein’s estate agreed to pay $105 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the repayment of $80 million in tax benefits, after the territory’s attorney general sued in 2020, claiming the Virgin Islands were duped into granting Epstein’s company, Southern Trust Company, tax benefits that allowed Epstein to use his residence there to abuse girls and women.

The settlement grants the U.S. Virgin Islands government half the proceeds from the sale of the islands—some $30 million—to be put into a trust to provide counseling and other services for victims of sexual abuse.

Deckoff–who has a net worth of $3 billion, according to Forbes’ estimates–built a fortune in private equity, working his way up at several firms, including Drexel Burnham Lambert, Bear Stearns and Kidder, Peabody & Co., before striking out on his own in 1995 with Black Diamond Capital.

Today, the Stamford, Connecticut-based company manages some $9 billion in assets and specializes in high-yield debt, distressed debt, restructuring and business turnarounds.

A native of New York City, Deckoff moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2011. He has given more than $1.2 million to nonprofits there, mostly to private schools and nature preservation organizations.

The islands are still recovering from two category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, that tore through in September 2017.

Deckoff’s plan is to construct a “state-of-the-art, five-star, world-class luxury 25-room resort” on the property, according to a press release Wednesday, to help boost tourism and economic development “while respecting and preserving the important environment of the islands.”

Original Article

Man Killed by Chokehold on NYC Subway (VIDEO)

A 30-year-old man who regularly danced in the Times Square transit hub was killed on Monday by a rider who put him in a chokehold on the New York City subway.

The confrontation took place as an F train traveling north reached the Broadway-Lafayette station in SoHo. Witnesses say Jordan Neely, recognizable to some New Yorkers as a Michael Jackson impersonator, was behaving erratically at the time. Video footage captured by Juan Alberto Vazquez, a freelance journalist, and shared on Facebook, showed Neely kicking as he was held down by passengers.

The man who pinned down Neely has not been identified but has been described in local reports as a 24-year-old former US marine. The man held Neely in a chokehold with his legs wrapped around his body; Neely lost consciousness during the struggle and later died in the hospital.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Neely died from compression of the neck, the city’s medical examiner determined on Wednesday, classifying his death as a homicide. The office noted that any determination about criminal culpability would be left to the legal system.

As news of Neely’s death spread online, video of the encounter evoked strong reactions from New Yorkers and officials. Some described the act as a lethal overreaction to a person in the throes of mental illness and others defended the marine veteran’s actions.

A group of protesters gathered on Wednesday afternoon in the station where Neely died to call for an arrest. Kyle Ishmael, a 38-year-old Harlem resident, said the video of the incident left him feeling “disgusted.”

“I couldn’t believe this was happening on my subway in my city that I grew up in,” he said.Jordan Neely: crowds protest in New York after death of man on subway train – video

In video footage of the incident, a voice could be heard calling for police while Neely attempted to shove away another rider who held his arms, saying the rider holding his neck was not squeezing.

As seen on the video, the hold lasted two minutes and 55 seconds before Neely was released.

Crime rates on the New York subway, a subject of concern following high-profile incidents and killings, have fallen in recent months. The city’s mayor, Eric Adams, and the state governor, Kathy Hochul, claim heightened police presence as a contributing factor.

Vazquez, who wrote on Facebook that he was on his way to a date in Yonkers when he saw the incident, told the New York Times Neely began yelling at passengers as he boarded the train.

Vasquez described a “very tense situation”, in which it was unclear how Neely would act.

“‘I don’t have food, I don’t have a drink, I’m fed up,’” Vasquez said the man yelled. “‘I don’t mind going to jail and getting life in prison. I’m ready to die.’”

Police took the rider who put Neely in a chokehold into custody. He was released without charges.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the New York police department told the Guardian the investigation was “ongoing”. The veteran, who appeared to be white, was taken into custody and released without charges. His name has not been released publicly.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has also said it is investigating. “As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the medical examiner’s report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records,” a spokesperson for the DA told the Associated Press.

Dave Giffen, the executive director at Coalition for the Homeless, blamed city and state officials for an inadequate response to the mental health crisis – and questioned why the veteran was not facing criminal charges.

“The fact that someone who took the life of a distressed, mentally ill human being on a subway could be set free without facing any consequences is shocking,” he said. “This is an absolute travesty that must be investigated immediately.”

Original Article

Officials Warn of Stabbing Spree Near UC Davis Campus Sparking Panic

A manhunt was unsuccessful early Tuesday after a third stabbing in Davis in less than a week left a homeless woman in critical condition.

Police said around 5 a.m. that they had lifted orders to shelter in place for downtown Davis residents after law enforcement inundated the city amid an overnight drizzle of rain, searching for an assailant seen running from an encampment near Second and L streets after the stabbing before midnight. An additional shelter-in-place alert was also issued on the UC Davis campus around 1 a.m.

The stabbing is the latest to shake the city following two fatal stabbings in three days, last Thursday and Saturday at Davis parks. The Davis Police Department reported only one homicide death for all of 2022.

“Officers have concluded their detailed search of the downtown Davis area and were not able to locate the suspect,” the Davis Police Department said in its update. “Officers will continue to heavily patrol the area. … Please continue to be aware of your surroundings.”

An emergency alert from police sent just before 1 a.m. said officers responded to a 911 call about a stabbing and were looking for a suspect described as a “light-complected male,” between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-9. Police said the man had a “thin build wearing a black or blue sweatshirt, black Adidas pants with white stripes, black shoes carrying a brown backpack.”

“The suspect was last seen running westbound on Third Street from L Street,” police said.

Lt. Dan Beckwith, a spokesman for the Davis Police Department, said that the victim was stabbed through her tent from the outside before a 911 call was made at 11:46 p.m. Monday. Beckwith said in a 3 a.m. update that the woman was taken to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and that her condition was considered critical.

“Officers immediately responded and located the female victim who reported that the suspect stabbed her more than one time through the tent,” he said. “The man then fled.”Tents near the scene of a stabbing are blocked by law enforcement vehicles and police tape following a stabbing Monday night at a homeless encampment near 2nd and L streets in Davis. It was the third stabbing in the city in less than a week. Sam Stanton sstanton@sacbee.comLaw enforcement vehicles and police tape block multiple streets Tuesday in Davis, including at 3rd and L streets, following a stabbing at a homeless encampment overnight. It was the third stabbing in the city in less than a week. Sam Stanton sstanton@sacbee.com

Yard-to-yard searches downtown

K-9 teams and other special personnel from the Yolo and Sacramento County sheriff’s offices, as well as Sacramento police, joined Davis officers in the manhunt.

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Authorities had conducted a “detailed searches of the surrounding neighborhoods and downtown Davis area using drones and canine units,” which included yard-to-yard searches.

Since Thursday, two men have been fatally stabbed, though police have not definitively linked the attacks to one suspect. Authorities said before the third attack that the incidents shared similarities, given the “brutal nature” of the attacks and the weapon used.

“It’s too early to tell — this is extremely preliminary,” Beckwith said. “I can say that the description is similar to what was provided to us in the most recent homicide, however, it’s still very, very early on.”

WarnMe: Shelter in place until further notice. Davis and UC Davis police are searching for a suspect following a stabbing in the area of 2nd and L streets. pic.twitter.com/DvGLnynWnR— UC Davis (@ucdavis) May 2, 2023

The first stabbing occurred Thursday at Central Park in downtown Davis and resulted in the death of David Henry Breaux, 50, who was known as the city’s “Compassion Guy” and was a regular at the park.

The second stabbing was reported about 9 p.m. Saturday at Sycamore Park near Sycamore Lane and Colby Drive, where police found a 20-year-old Davis student, Karim Abou Najm, dead at the scene.

“Despite conducting an exhaustive search of the area surrounding the park for the suspect with the support of other Yolo County law enforcement agencies using canines and drones, the suspect has not yet been located,” police said in the update.

In that incident, police said they were looking for a man between the ages of 19 and 23 and 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8, describing him as “a light-skinned male, possibly Hispanic,” had “long curly loose hair.”

Students at nearby UC Davis were also asked to shelter in place “until further notice” and the school has deployed “extra private security on campus.” The university shelter-in-place order was lifted just before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, campus officials said in updates posted to social media.

Both UC Davis and city police were urging people who venture out at night to walk in groups.

‘We don’t want that in our town’

Several blocks north of the latest stabbing, three men stood outside a 7-Eleven near Fifth and L streets armed with a hatchet and their dog, Snooter. One of the men, who would only identify himself as Aaron, said he and his friends had been out Monday night into Tuesday looking for the killer when the attack occurred at the encampment.

“We spoke to firsthand eyewitness,” Aaron said. “There was some sort of altercation that happened and the assailant came back and stabbed someone. The person had left, and changed their clothing, and came back and stabbed the person.”

The three men said the residents of the encampment had “seen him, and talked to him” before the stabbing began.

The men said they were out in hopes of protecting the community.

“We’re local,” Aaron said. “It’s our community.”

One of his friends, wearing a security ball cap and T-shirt and carrying the ax on his belt added, “We don’t want that in our town.”

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