A California man is in custody after police say he jumped out of a vehicle and stabbed several people at an Independence Day fireworks celebration in Huntington Beach.
Independent reports that the man allegedly killed two people and three others received non-life-threatening injuries near 16th Street and Pecan Avenue on July 4 around 11 p.m.
Huntington Beach police have not released the type of weapon that was used.
Deandre Adams, a witness, relayed to the Los Angeles Times that he saw a woman in a car with possibly two other people, pull up to the crowd. A male passenger got out and began randomly stabbing people. He was tackled to the ground by two bystanders and held til law enforcement arrived.
One of the victims that died was a good friend of Adams and was engaged to be married this September.
“We were having a good time earlier in the evening, just watching the fireworks on the sidewalk, and we were talking about going to the [Huntington Beach Pier], but we decided to stay here,” said Adams.
ABC News reports that another witness, Pacella, was coming home from the bar when he stopped at the party, only to see police lights less than an hour later.
“Just a get-together with the neighbors and some local friends,” Pacella said. “Everybody there is really nice and easygoing, they’re all neighborly and help each other out.”
Three people were arrested and a Huntington Beach resident, 26, still remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, said city spokeswoman Jennifer Carey.
At this time, no names have been released.
The major crimes unit is investigating this incident. The Huntington Beach police said the stabbings were likely an isolated event.
[Feature Photo: Police officers stand guard at the crime scene where police say two people were killed and three others injured in Huntington Beach, Calif., Friday, July 5, 2024. Two people were killed and three others injured in Independence Day violence in the beach city, police said Friday. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)]
