Who was Michael Mammone? California doctor fatally stabbed by driver after being run over by car
DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA: A bizarre sequence of events led to the death of a doctor after he was hit by a car and then repeatedly stabbed in a lethal attack. Michael Mammone, 58, an emergency room doctor, was slain in a bizarre incident in Dana Point, California on Wednesday, February 1.
Vanroy Smith, 39, is accused of hitting Mammone with his car around 3 pm before getting out and stabbing the doctor many times. Several witnesses stopped Smith and waited for the police to take him away. As per The Sun, witnesses claim that Smith approached Mammone with a BB gun before grabbing a knife and stabbing him. The doctor was declared dead at the hospital.
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Who was Michael Mammone?
Mammone worked at Providence Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, which released a statement describing the doctor's death as a "shocking tragedy." "The entire Mission Hospital family is grieving over the loss of an incredible physician and friend," says the statement. "We will honor Dr. Mammone’s dedication to our community and passion for medicine by continuing to provide exceptional care."
Speaking to Fox 11, the hospital staff said that Mammone resided a few blocks from the hospital and was an ardent cyclist. He was killed less than a mile from his workplace. "That's the irony of this whole thing," stated cardiologist Dr Dawn Aatwal. "If a patient was brought in his condition he would have done everything he could to save that person. He has saved so many lives here, and he died very close to where he saved hundreds of lives."
A person who knows Mammone took to her Facebook to express grief and said the doctor was a "caring and excellent physician." "I also had the privilege of working in the medical field with Dr. Mammone at San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland many years ago and he was a caring & excellent Physician," wrote Yvette Cook. "He even helped one of my family members in an emergency situation. May he RIP & my deepest condolences to Dr. Michael Mammome’s family."
Did Smith know Michael Mammone?
FOX 11 acquired images of the guy thought to be the murder suspect in the killing of Mammone on Thursday. There are currently no connections between Michael Mammone and Vanroy Smith, according to investigators. "As of right now we currently don’t truly understand the why… as far as motivation and any type of relationship," stated Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt Mike Woodruff. "Investigators are keeping all options open to check those boxes if you will, to make sure they don’t leave anything uncovered." Smith has been booked on suspicion of committing murder.