The Davis community can now find solace after the Davis Police Department arrested Carlos Dominguez, a 21-year-old UC-Davis student, in connection with three stabbings that left two dead.
With the identification and apprehension of Dominguez, the department began searching for significant evidence related to the crimes.
The attacks began on April 27th when UC-Davis community member David Breaux was found fatally stabbed in Central Park. Two days later, Karim Majdi Abou Najm, a UC-Davis senior, was found dead with multiple fatal stab wounds in Sycamore Park. On May 1st, a woman was attacked in her tent near 2nd and L Streets. She suffered severe injuries and underwent surgery at UC-Davis medical center but is now on the mend.
The police department credits a cluster of tips reported to their hotline for Dominguez’s arrest. He was immediately taken into custody before the search warrant was served at his home in Davis on May 4th and is being held at Yolo County Jail. Following the lead of Chief Darren Pytel, Dominguez is being held accountable for two counts of murder, including one count of attempted murder and a weapons violation. Furthermore, Pytel has made it known that Dominguez is solely responsible for the killings.
The two fatalities, Breaux and Najm, were known for their tremendous contributions to the Davis community. Breaux aided in building the Compassion Corner Earthbench, which is found on the corner of 3rd and C Streets, while Najm, a computer science major, was due to graduate with honors. In his honor, the university has since created a fund to support undergraduate research.
UC-Davis officials revealed that Dominguez was initially a third-year university student but had been “separated for academic reasons” prior to the attacks. At the press conference on Thursday, Davis Mayor Will Arnold concluded by expressing warmth and assurance over the community’s safety: “A murderer is off the streets, and our families will sleep easier tonight.”
With Carlos Dominguez in custody, the Davis community can take a much-needed breath of relief despite the tragedy that has consumed the city in the past few weeks.