Ricardo Saldívar: Man, 23, stabs California woman, 66, and her dog to death, knocked unconscious by rock
SAN DIMAS, CALIFORNIA: A 23-year-old man stabbed a 66-year-old woman and her dog in a horrific daylight attack in Los Angeles. At around 1:30 pm on Friday, March 26, the woman was walking her dog when she was attacked in Lone Hill Park in San Dimas. A motive is yet to be ascertained, with the victim in custody. NBC Los Angeles said that the suspect was identified as Ricardo Saldívar and the victim as Glendora resident, Jeanne Anne Edgar.
According to reports, Saldívar first tried to attack a man, who managed to escape and get into his vehicle. Saldívar then went for Edgar, brutally stabbing first her dog Sashi then her multiple times. Then, the man who was originally meant to be the victim got out of his car and threw a rock at Saldívar. The rock hit his head and he was knocked unconscious by it. By the time paramedics rushed to the scene, both Edgar and her dog were declared dead.
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Saldívar, 23, of Upland, California was booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, the sheriff’s department reported. Saldívar was taken to a hospital to be treated for head injuries. "When medically cleared, the suspect will be transported to San Dimas Station and booked for murder," the sheriff's department said in a statement according to the Daily Mail. He is reportedly being held on $2 million bail. Saldívar is scheduled to appear before the court on March 29 in Pomona.
The man who knocked the attacker unconscious has been identified as Joe Cohen, whose father-in-law Tony Page was interviewed by ABC 7. Page said, "Joe was sitting in his vehicle, watching this horrific thing take place. The suspect at that point turned after killing the dog and started stabbing the lady. At that point, Joe got out of his vehicle, looked for something. He found a rock, picked it up, he threw it, hit the suspect in the face, knocked him out. He was able to basically subdue and hold the suspect until authorities arrived."
In a separate interview with NBC Los Angeles, Page said that the suspect "was all drugged out" according to Joe. Joe also told the station that "I see in my peripheral vision, this guy - he looks like he’s deranged and on drugs. He approaches me, and he says something along the lines of 'I’m going to kill you.'"
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon near the intersection of Shellman Avenue and Renwick Road at about 1:35 p.m. “The call indicated a woman was screaming and later updated indicating a woman was being stabbed,” the department said in a statement.
The street corner where the woman and dog died has now become a memorial, with locals bringing flowers and candles to honor her. Neighbors have also told several local stations that the incident is highly concerning, given how the area is usually quiet and crime-free. Many children play in the park and there is also an elementary school nearby.
Not much is known about 66-year-old Edgar, who is a resident of Glendora. Her family refused to talk to the media. Likewise, no information was released for Saldívar.