The man Oakland police identified as the suspect in an apparent random mass stabbing this week was reportedly on parole after serving time for a double stabbing in 2019.
Jose Jesus Rodriguez, 34, was arrested on suspicion of stabbing five people, one fatally, in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood Monday night.
Police said they believed Rodriguez was homeless, and court records show he was on parole, KTVU reported.
Rodriguez was sent to prison after he was convicted for stabbing an Uber driver and a garbage collector in 2019. He was released on parole in 2023.
Gonzalo Lopez, 58, died in the random stabbing spree that began in Cesar Chavez Park around 7:30 p.m. In the span of approximately half an hour, four more people would be stabbed. The surviving victims include a 47-year-old man, a 20-year-old man, a 52-year-old woman and an unidentified man, police said.
On Tuesday, police said one person remained in critical condition.
After Rodriguez allegedly fatally stabbed Lopez in the park, police said they found another stabbing victim near 38th Avenue and San Leandro Street. A third stabbing victim was reported near the Fruitvale BART Station.
Two more victims were found near an area with multiple restaurants by 39th Avenue and International Boulevard.
The apparent random violence ended shortly before 8 p.m. when witnesses sent police toward the 1500 block of 39th Avenue. Officers caught the suspect and ordered him to put the knife down, safely taking him into custody.
He was being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of several charges, including murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was also booked on special allegations, including a prior serious felony and notice of state prison eligibility.
The stabbing have rattled those living and working in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood.
Mohammed Aldhari, who works at Market One across the street from Fruitvale BART Station, said he saw police cars and ambulances swarm the station when he was closing the shop Monday night.
“There’s too many crimes around this area – robberies and fights,” Aldhari said “A lot of crazy things happen outside, especially outside the BART station.”
Aldo Toledo contributed to this report.
Subscribe
There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at Report: Suspect in Oakland mass stabbing was convicted of double stabbing in 2019.