The search is on for a suspected killer who stabbed three people near the University of California Davis in less than a week, including a student who died from his injuries.
The series of brutal attacks began last Thursday when 50-year-old David Henry Breaux, a homeless man known as the "Compassion Guy," was found stabbed to death on a park bench in Davis, located just west of Sacramento.
Two days later, 20-year-old student Karim Abou-Najm was murdered as he rode his bicycle home from an event at the university.
The most recent attack occurred late Monday night at a homeless camp, where a man approached a group, talked with them and walked away. He returned a short time later, entered one woman's tent and stabbed her "repeatedly," according to Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel.
"The suspect didn't seem to care that there were several witnesses," Pytel told the Los Angeles Times.
The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition.
The stabbing prompted an hours-long shelter-in-place order for the entire UC Davis campus and surrounding area that stretched into Tuesday morning as law enforcement searched for the suspect, to no avail.
The same man is suspected in all three incidents, Pytel said. He's advising residents to stay indoors -- especially at night -- until the killer is caught.
The suspect is described as male with a light complexion, curly hair, 5'6"-5'9" tall, and thin build. He was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, black "Adidas" style pants with a white stripe, black shoes and a brown backpack.
The the FBI and Department of Justice, along with law enforcement agencies across the region, are assisting with the investigation. Officers are on rotating 12 hour shifts and patrols have been added all over town, city officials said. A composite sketch is currently in the works.
While the suspect remains at large, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May said the school is taking several actions as the safety of the campus community is "top priority."
"I know so many of us are on edge in light of the recent tragic events," May said. "Please be assured that we are working tirelessly with our own teams as well as the City of Davis to make sure our community is safe."
Effective immediately, nighttime classes will not be held in-person. Instruction that ends after 6 p.m. will be remote; labs will be rescheduled if they are unable to be facilitated remotely. Daytime classes are not affected and will continue as scheduled.
The university is also adding extra security at night, utilizing officers from the Davis Police Department and other University of California police departments, as well as assistance from Members in Black Private Security.
"We are compiling a list of venues where activities might be taking place, so we can assign patrols where they need to be," May said.
The school is also expanding its Safe Ride service, which provides rides in clearly marked security vehicles or escorts on foot, to start two hours earlier.
"Rides from campus into the city are now available from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. seven days a week until further notice," May said. Transportation from one campus location to another starts at 5 p.m.
Additionally, the school installed additional exterior cameras on Tuesday as part of a previously planned project. Administrators are also looking into temporary lighting to provide greater visibility in high-traffic areas.
"In the meantime, we must remain vigilant, especially as these horrific crimes remain unsolved," May said. "Please continue to take care of yourself and look out for your peers. Let's lean into others for support and come together as a community."
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