Suspect in custody after three stabbings in one day

FRESNO – Police arrested a man suspected in a stabbing spree that took place in downtown Fresno on Tuesday afternoon.

William Jimenez

A man armed with a knife reportedly stabbed three men in three different locations in the downtown area in a period of one hour, Fresno police said. Police have arrested 29-year-old William Jimenez as a suspect in the case.

The first attack took place at the Greyhound bus terminal at Mariposa and H streets a little after 4 p.m. when a man allegedly stabbed a 53-year-old man in the side. Police say the attack seemed to be unprovoked.

A witness said the victim didn’t seem to realize what had happened to him. He initially thought the suspect had only attempted to stab him, officials said.

“He reached behind his back — and I had already seen the big blood spot — and that’s when he noticed he was actually stabbed,” said Kristina McCarty, a witness who was at the bus station at the time of the incident.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where police say he is in stable condition.

After the stabbing, the suspect ran away and was pursued by a security guard. The guard eventually lost track of him, police said.

During the police’s investigation of the stabbing, they received another call about a stabbing victim inside the Fulton Mall only a few blocks away. The time frame between the two stabbings was about a half hour, police said.

The second victim, a 51-year-old man, had been stabbed repeatedly but the injuries were not life threatening, police said.

While investigating the Fulton Mall stabbing, police yet again received a call about another stabbing, this time near an IHOP at Tulare Street and Highway 41. Police said the 38-year-old victim was stabbed in the arm while working on his broken down car.

Despite being injured, the victim was able to follow his attacker to an area around First and Belmont streets. The victim called the police and was able to give them the suspect’s location, officials said.

“A small knife was used in the stabbings,” said Sgt. Eddie Barrios, who called the crime spree “bizarre.”

Police said that there appears to be no reason for the attacks.

Read more:
Three stabbings across Downtown Fresno
Stabbing spree started at the Greyhound Bus Station