Neighbor in custody for allegedly stabbing a Sunland grandfather and granddaughter
Police have arrested a suspect wanted in connection with a double stabbing in Sunland on Friday morning that left a grandfather and his 12-year-old granddaughter with injuries.
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the 10300 block of Eldora Avenue just before 7:45 a.m. for reports of a stabbing in the area.
Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department reported taking an elderly man and a young girl to the hospital in stable condition, suffering from stab wounds. Neighbors say that the girl has already been released from the hospital, and that the man had undergone surgery.
Jarring security camera video footage shows the moments that the suspect approached the victims and attacked them before getting into their car and driving away.
Gayane Ananyan said that her granddaughter was stabbed in the arm and the neck, while her husband was also stabbed in the neck as they were getting ready to leave for school.
Police have identified a 31-year-old suspect, whose family lives next door to the victims. Family members said that he has lived with them off and on over the last few years. Both neighbors and family members told CBS LA that they have been worried that something like Friday morning's incident could happen.
"Psychopath runs at the granddaughter... straight up stabs her on the arm," said Mike Agajanyan, who lives nearby. "Luckily, the grandpa was able to pull the kid out of the car."
One neighbor said that the attacker has already been arrested multiple times and that the neighborhood has had multiple problems with him. She said that he was the reason she had security cameras installed on her home.
"We knew something was gonna happen sometime and sadly it was today," she said.
Police have identified a 31-year-old suspect, whose family lives next door to the victims. Family members said that he has lived with them off and on over the last few years and that he suffers from addiction and mental health struggles. They also said they were worried something like Friday morning's incident could happen.
"I was hopeful that he would never, but I'm more of a realist, if you will. I saw the signs, which is why I jumped into action and tried to get him the help so it wouldn't come to this," said Esteban Avilez, when asked if he thought his brother Eric would ever stab someone.
He also offered an apology on behalf of his family.
"I am so sorry. I am so sorry that that happened to you," he said. "I hope for a speedy recovery, I hope the grandfather, you know I heard he was in surgery, I hope that went well. I hope both of them a speedy recovery."
Police said they located the vehicle the suspect fled in about one mile away, on McVine Avenue. Later in the afternoon, LAPD officials said the suspect was in custody, they still have not publicly identified him.
Editor's note: Authorities had previously reported that the girl was 10 years old, but later revealed that she is actually 12.
