Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing death of a female adult that occurred on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at approximately 5:31 a.m. in the 4700 block of Slauson Avenue, Maywood.
Detectives have learned that East Los Angeles Station deputies responded to a local business regarding a “fight in progress” call. When deputies arrived, they found the suspect fighting with two men inside the store.
Deputies detained the suspect and escorted the suspect out of the store.
Deputies then reentered the store and were directed to an unresponsive female who was on the floor behind the front counter. Deputies realized she had sustained multiple stab wounds to her torso and quickly summoned paramedics.
The unresponsive female, who had been working as a store clerk, was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect was inside the store when he suddenly attacked the victim. During the attack, a second female employee attempted to help the victim. Unbeknownst to the second female, the suspect had not only punched the victim, but had also repeatedly stabbed her with a knife.
As the second female employee intervened to help the victim, the suspect redirected his stabbing motions at the second female employee in an active attempt to stab her. During the attack, the suspect did not realize that the blade had broken from its handle, and continued repeated stabbing motions at the second female before two male customers were able to grab the suspect and pull him away.
The two male customers fought with the suspect until deputies arrived.
The two male customers and the second female employee remained unaware that the victim had sustained multiple stab wounds.
There appears to be no motive for the attack.
The second female victim sustained abrasions and was treated at the scene.
The two male customers were not injured.
A broken kitchen knife was recovered at the scene.
The suspect, 33 year-old local transient Kevin C. Gomez, was arrested for Murder and Attempted Murder. He was transported to East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station and is being held in lieu of two million dollars bail.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Authored by:
Juanita Navarro-Suarez, Deputy
@LASDJuanita
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street,
Los Angeles California 90012
213-229-1700
Original press release is as follows:
__________________________________________________
DATE: Wednesday, June 24, 2020
TIME: 5:31 a.m.
LOCATION: 4700 block of Slauson Avenue, Maywood
VICTIM: Female Adult
SUSPECT: Unknown
UNIT: Homicide Bureau – Lieutenant Barry Hall
NARRATIVE:
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide investigators are responding to the stabbing death of a woman. The incident was reported Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at approximately 5:31 a.m., on the 4700 block of Slauson Avenue, Maywood.
The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
There is no additional information available at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Forwarded by:
Deputy Trina Schrader
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street,
Los Angeles California 90012
213-229-1700
Website: http://www.lasd.org
*Text & Email, Register for LASD Nixle messages: To receive more detailed, up-to-date information via E-MAIL and/or TEXT directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), sign up for "Nixle" alerts at http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD – Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" AND your local LASD station area. Or, to receive URGENT TEXT ALERTS ONLY, text your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.
Alex Villanueva, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
