The Latest on a deadly stabbing rampage in Southern California (all times local):
3:35 p.m.
The suspect in a deadly stabbing rampage in Southern California has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and other charges.
An Orange County district attorney’s spokeswoman said Friday that Zachary Castaneda was arraigned in his jail cell instead of court. She could not immediately say why.
Prosecutors say Castaneda, a gang member, is charged with four counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes.
He was arrested Wednesday in Santa Ana after what authorities say was a two-hour string of attacks and thefts that followed the killing of two of his neighbors at a Garden Grove apartment building.
Also killed were a security guard at a Santa Ana 7-Eleven and a man at a nearby Subway shop.
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2 p.m.
A church official says one victim of a stabbing rampage in Southern California was a construction worker and devout churchgoer from Mexico.
Saul Abrego of the United Pentecostal Church La Senda Antigua in Santa Ana said Friday that Pascual Rioja had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade but his wife and 16-year-old son remain in Mexico.
Abrego says Rioja held home Bible study events for the church.
He says he believes Rioja had just come back from work and was heading to one such event when he was attacked.
Authorities say Rioja was one of four people stabbed to death Wednesday by a gang member who went on a two-hour rampage in Orange County.
Suspect Zachary Castaneda was charged with four counts of murder and other crimes.
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1:15 p.m.
The suspect in a deadly stabbing rampage in Southern California has been charged with four counts of murder, one count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes.
Orange County prosecutors filed the charges Friday against 33-year-old Zachary Castaneda in advance of an afternoon arraignment.
Other counts include aggravated mayhem, robbery and burglary.
Castaneda was arrested Wednesday in Santa Ana after what authorities say was a two-hour string of attacks and thefts that followed the killing of two of his neighbors at a Garden Grove apartment building.
Also killed were a security guard at a Santa Ana 7-Eleven and an employee at a nearby Subway shop.
Castaneda is a gang member with a violent criminal history. Police say he hasn’t told them what prompted the attacks.
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9:10 p.m.
Police are saying a rampage of robberies and killings in Southern California seems to have been fueled by robbery and rage but they’re still trying to find a motive for the grisly stabbings that left four people dead and two badly injured.
Zachary Castaneda was expected to appear in court Friday to answer charges.
He was arrested Wednesday in Santa Ana after what authorities say was a two-hour string of attacks and thefts that followed the killing of two of Castaneda’s neighbors at a Garden Grove apartment building.
Also killed were a security guard at a Santa Ana 7-Eleven and an employee at a nearby Subway shop.
Castaneda is a gang member with a long and violent criminal history. Police say he hasn’t told them what prompted the attacks.
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This story has been corrected to show the charges include one count of attempted murder, not two, and adds one assault with a deadly weapon.
