ATWATER, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — Four people have been hospitalized following a stabbing in Atwater on Wednesday morning.
Police say it happened at about 11 a.m. in the area of Atwater Boulevard and First Street.
Authorities say a man, now identified as 38-year-old Isidro Chavez Gonzales, walked up to three people waiting for the bus and stabbed them using a sickle, commonly used in farming.
Detectives say one of the victims was using a walker.
The other two ran to nearby businesses for help.
Police say Gonzales then went to the Teasdale Foods next door, stabbed another person, and then stole a vehicle.
He led police on a chase before crashing into a pole at Buhach and Highway 140.
That’s where he was arrested.
Manuel Garcia was at home in his Atwater apartment Wednesday morning when he heard disturbing sounds outside.
“I heard this lady screaming very frantically, like as if she was in a horror movie. I never heard anything like that in my life,” Garcia recalled.
“It got worse and louder and so I ran aside to check and I seen this man beating over this woman. Which I thought was beating over her, but I guess he was stabbing her.”
Garcia says when he went to confront the man, he swung his weapon.
“The only thing I could see was the blue handle from his knife. I didn’t see the blade because he was moving so fast,” said Garcia.
Garcia says he briefly backed off and tried to call 911.
He then chased the man to keep an eye on him until police could arrive.
That’s when Garcia saw another victim.
“The minute I got around the building, he had already stabbed this gentleman on his cheek on the right side and on the left side and the gentleman who had been stabbed was holding his face,” said Garcia.
For hours after the crime, a large area surrounding Atwater Boulevard from High Street and Third Street was closed as police collected evidence and cleaned up the scene.
Police say all four victims were airlifted to the hospital but have since been treated and released.
Gonzales is facing charges of attempted murder, carjacking, and evading police.
