4 killed, 2 injured in stabbing spree in Southern California

A robbery suspect was arrested after killing at least four people and injuring two others in a deadly stabbing spree Wednesday in the city of Garden Grove, 60 km southeast of downtown Los Angeles, police said.

Garden Grove police stand watch at the scene of a stabbing in Garden Grove, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. A man killed multiple people and wounded others in a string of robberies and stabbings in California's Orange County before he was arrested, police said Wednesday. [Photo: AP/Alex Gallardo]

According to the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD), the deputies encountered and arrested the attacker who was armed with a knife and a handgun at about 7:30 p.m. (0230 GMT Thursday) in a 7-Eleven convenience store after the suspect had stabbed six victims along a main street in the city.

"GGPD working multiple scenes with several homicides. Multiple robberies and stabbings by suspect. Suspect in custody by #GGPD at Harbor and First in Santa Ana," the GGPD tweeted.

Police said the suspect stabbed two men to death, then drove a silver Mercedes to a Chevron gas station and an insurance company, where he injured two others. From there, the suspect went to a Subway restaurant and stabbed a person to death before going to a nearby 7-Eleven and attacking a security guard, who died later in hospital.

Police said the motive of the suspect, a 33-year-old man from Garden Grove, was robbery and that the attacks were random, local NBC 4 news channel reported.