North Sacramento stabbings may be linked to two 2006 attacks

Sacramento police believe the serial stabber suspected of four recent, random attacks in North Sacramento may be linked to two assaults in 2006, including one in which the victim later died.

Just as he did in the recent stabbings, the assailant in the 2006 attacks said nothing to his victims before stabbing them in the back or upper body, said Sacramento Police Sgt. Matt Young.

The 2006 attacks occurred on or near Del Paso Boulevard, the same neighborhood where four people have been stabbed in the past six weeks, police said. The description of the attacker from the 2006 stabbings is similar to the recent series.

Investigators said if the same man is behind the 2006 attacks and the recent stabbings, it is likely he had been out of the area for more than a year before recently returning.

"We're really hoping someone out there has a cousin or a buddy or a friend of a friend who hasn't been around for whatever reason," Young said. "We'd like to hear from those people."

Young added that investigators are particularly interested in hearing about someone with a criminal background, or who might appear unstable.

The first stabbing being investigated was the June 28, 2006, attack on Robert Wright.

Wright, 64, was riding his bicycle home from church along Eleanor Avenue near Del Paso Boulevard in the city's Old North Sacramento neighborhood when he was stabbed from behind, police said.

He suffered massive injuries to his spleen and diaphragm and battled through numerous surgeries before dying Feb. 5 of this year, police said.

Another man was stabbed just one block away, near Glenrose Avenue and Del Paso Boulevard, on Aug. 21, 2006, police said.

That victim, 69-year-old David Loucks, was approached by a man walking in the opposite direction, police said. Loucks said "Good evening," to the other man, who did not respond.

Seconds later, the man turned and stabbed Loucks in the back, according to police. Loucks recovered from his injuries.

No one has been seriously injured in the four recent stabbings, but all of the victims have required medical attention, Young said.

The first assault occurred near Del Paso Boulevard and Arden Way at 5 p.m. March 30, police said. That was followed by another stabbing on April 22 at Del Paso and El Camino Avenue at 12:30 p.m.

The third attack came about 7 p.m. April 29 near 2021 Del Paso Blvd., according to police. In that assault, a young mother was pushing her son in a stroller when she was stabbed in the back, police said.

Police said they believe the attacker struck again 11 days later when someone was stabbed at 5:38 p.m. Saturday at Plaza Avenue and Rio Linda Boulevard.

While noting striking similarities between the 2006 cases and the four recent stabbings, Young said there are differences.

The attacker was on foot in the older cases, while the assailant in the four recent stabbings was riding a bicycle.

The attack on Loucks, in August 2006, also occurred at 11:10 p.m., while all of the others happened in daylight hours, police said.

Still, there are enough similarities for police to have beefed up patrols in the neighborhood and to go public with the possible links.

"We'd like to err on the side of caution in terms of public safety," Young said.

The suspect in the recent stabbings was described as a Latino male between the ages of 22 and 29. He stands between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds.

He has a light brown complexion, a medium build, short black hair and brown eyes, police said.

Witnesses told police the assailant's bike is a red, gray or tan 10-speed or mountain bike.

The knife he used in the recent stabbings was 6 inches long and possibly had a black handle. It has also been described as a Swiss Army knife.

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