Police search for stabbing suspect

Karen Zekan

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 | 9:59 a.m.

Nevada and California authorities were on alert today for a 19-year-old man last seen fleeing an auto repair shop on Maryland Parkway where he allegedly stabbed his 19-year-old wife numerous times after an argument.

A nursing supervisor at University Medical Center said today that the woman, whose name was not released, was recovering and in good condition.

Her assailant is described as a Hispanic man, 5 feet 11 and 145 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and red jacket, and may be headed to Yucca Valley, Calif., where he had been living before moving to Las Vegas three weeks ago.

The suspect is most likely traveling in a maroon-colored 1992 Mitsubishi hatchback, California license plate 3DAK014, with extensive damage to its right side.

Witnesses described watching in horror as the suspect repeatedly stabbed the woman in the head, face, neck and arms with what appeared to be a pocketknife about 7:35 p.m. Wednesday outside the Sears Auto Center at 3450 S. Maryland Parkway. The shop is adjacent to the Boulevard mall.

"He must've stabbed her 20 or 25 times," said Terry Stump, an auto center salesman who aided the victim before paramedics arrived by applying pressure with gauze and rags to the woman's wounds, the worst of which he said were to her left shoulder and a five-inch cut in her neck.

Stump said the couple had taken their car to be serviced at the center and were waiting for the keys in the parking lot when they got into an argument.

"She told him that it was over, that she was leaving him, and she was walking up to the door (of the auto center) to call her mom when it happened," said Diandre Johnson, a customer who heard part of the couple's argument on his way from the parking lot to the counter to buy a battery.

Johnson said he was in line inside when he heard a commotion outside, then saw Stump run out the door and then re-enter screaming that a woman was being stabbed.

The woman's attacker took off running through the parking lot, and got into a maroon colored hatchback in which a 2-year-old boy, believed to be the couple's son, was sitting.

Johnson attempted to give chase in his car as the assailant sped away north on Maryland Parkway, but lost the fleeing vehicle a few blocks away.

"I was hoping to get a license plate number or at least find out where the guy was going," Johnson said. "When I got to the intersection near Sunrise Hospital, the light turned red and he was gone. I stopped because there was traffic, but by the time the light turned green, I couldn't find him."

Metro Police Lt. Larry Spinosa of the Crimes Against Persons section said the suspect will be charged with attempted murder, kidnapping (for fleeing with the child), and use of a deadly weapon in commission of a crime.

"I remember seeing a puddle of blood," said Robyne Leavitt, another customer at the auto center whose hands were stained trying to help the victim. "I remember her asking me, 'Why didn't someone come out sooner? Why didn't someone help me?' "

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information on the whereabouts of the attacker or the boy is asked to notify Metro's robbery detail at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.