By Gregory W. Griggs, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
12:48 PM PDT, August 13, 2007
Ventura County authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of fatally attacking a 6-year-old boy with a meat cleaver, authorities said today.
The attack occurred about 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Hillcrest Drive in the Newbury Park community near Thousand Oaks, authorities said.
The suspect, Calvin Sharp, 28, was arrested at the scene after officers shot him multiple times with a Taser gun, authorities and witnesses said. He is expected to be charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
David Crawford, 21, said a neighbor who witnessed the slaying told him that the suspect was telling the boy "to die, die," as he stabbed him in the head repeatedly.
"He said he was tired of him playing video games all the time," Crawford said. "He said his ex-wife had cheated on him and was sleeping with all his friends."
The boy's mother, Sandra Ruiz, 33, was trying to stop the attack when she was also stabbed. "You couldn't even tell what color her hair was it was so bloody," said another neighbor, who didn't want to be identified. "It was horrid."
At that point, the neighbor said that an older woman who also lived in the complex ran outside and tackled the assailant, knocking the cleaver out of his hand. As they struggled, another man ran out to help and they pinned down the suspect until police arrived.
"This woman was a hero," the neighbor said. The woman, who suffered a facial cut, was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released.
Other residents said they were stunned. "I've lived here three years and we've never had anything like this," said Joel Alfano, 39. "This is way out. This is the worst - savage, brutal, I'm speechless. It's always strange when it happens where you live."
Ruiz was listed in critical condition at Los Robles Regional Medical Center.
On Monday morning, a makeshift memorial had been set up in the courtyard, with a Winnie the Pooh baby blanket, balloons and six roses. There was also a large white teddy bear with a pink bow tied around its neck that said, "I love you."
what in the fuck is this world coming to?
12:48 PM PDT, August 13, 2007
Ventura County authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of fatally attacking a 6-year-old boy with a meat cleaver, authorities said today.
The attack occurred about 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Hillcrest Drive in the Newbury Park community near Thousand Oaks, authorities said.
The suspect, Calvin Sharp, 28, was arrested at the scene after officers shot him multiple times with a Taser gun, authorities and witnesses said. He is expected to be charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
David Crawford, 21, said a neighbor who witnessed the slaying told him that the suspect was telling the boy "to die, die," as he stabbed him in the head repeatedly.
"He said he was tired of him playing video games all the time," Crawford said. "He said his ex-wife had cheated on him and was sleeping with all his friends."
The boy's mother, Sandra Ruiz, 33, was trying to stop the attack when she was also stabbed. "You couldn't even tell what color her hair was it was so bloody," said another neighbor, who didn't want to be identified. "It was horrid."
At that point, the neighbor said that an older woman who also lived in the complex ran outside and tackled the assailant, knocking the cleaver out of his hand. As they struggled, another man ran out to help and they pinned down the suspect until police arrived.
"This woman was a hero," the neighbor said. The woman, who suffered a facial cut, was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released.
Other residents said they were stunned. "I've lived here three years and we've never had anything like this," said Joel Alfano, 39. "This is way out. This is the worst - savage, brutal, I'm speechless. It's always strange when it happens where you live."
Ruiz was listed in critical condition at Los Robles Regional Medical Center.
On Monday morning, a makeshift memorial had been set up in the courtyard, with a Winnie the Pooh baby blanket, balloons and six roses. There was also a large white teddy bear with a pink bow tied around its neck that said, "I love you."
what in the fuck is this world coming to?
