A 10-year-old girl and her 70-year-old grandfather were stabbed during an alleged carjacking on Feb. 6 in Sunland, Los Angeles. The girl was released from the hospital around noon; the grandfather remained hospitalized with neck wounds and was reported in stable condition. Neighbors and Ring camera footage reportedly implicated a neighbor, identified as Eric Avilez, who was arrested later that day; booking and charges were pending. Two other children in the car escaped without serious injury.
10-Year-Old and 70-Year-Old Grandfather Stabbed in Alleged Sunland Carjacking; Suspect Arrested
10300 block of Eldora Ave, Sunland, CA where a 10-Year-Old Girl and Grandpa were Stabbed While on Their Way to School.Google Maps
A 10-year-old girl and her 70-year-old grandfather were stabbed during an alleged carjacking while on their way to school on Friday, Feb. 6, in the Sunland neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said.
What Happened
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the 10300 block of Eldora Avenue just before 8 a.m., according to reports from KTLA. The Los Angeles Fire Department said both victims were treated at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital.
The girl was released from the hospital at about 12 p.m. the same day. Her grandfather remained hospitalized after suffering stab wounds to the neck that may have struck an artery; police later described his condition as stable, the outlets reported.
Suspect, Footage and Neighbor Accounts
ABC7 obtained Ring camera footage that allegedly shows the attacker striking the vehicle's occupants. Neighbors told the station the suspect, identified by local outlets as Eric Avilez, had been staying with relatives next door to the victims and had caused disturbances in the neighborhood.
"All kinds of crazy stuff. Just your worst nightmare as a neighbor. You don't want this in your neighborhood," neighbor Mike Agajanyan told ABC7.
The suspect's brother, Esteban Avilez, told ABC7 that Eric "has mental issues," according to the station.
Aftermath and Arrest
According to Fox 11 and LAPD statements, residents said they watched the suspect run around the car and attempt to grab the child. Two other children who were in the vehicle reportedly escaped without serious injury.
After the attack the suspect allegedly drove off in the victims' vehicle but abandoned it a few miles later. Police arrested the suspect at about 2 p.m.; booking had not been completed and charges had not been filed at the time of the reports. Multiple local outlets covered the incident, including KTLA, ABC7, Fox 11 and People.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances and motive behind the alleged attack. No formal charging information was available in the initial reports.
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