Long Beach Stabbing Spree Suspect's Family Shocked By Attack
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Family members of the man suspected of stabbing six people Friday night in Long Beach before being shot dead by police said they were surprised by the violent attack.
The suspect was identified by relatives as Derrick Lee Hunt. The suspect's sister, Shawntris Lee, said they had spent time together earlier in the day and Hunt showed "no signs of physical aggression." She described her 28-year-old brother as "goofy" and "outgoing."
Hunt is suspected of stabbing six people around 8 p.m. Friday night in Long Beach.
Long Beach homicide detectives say the crime spree started at an apartment complex on the north side of the 3200 block of East Artesia Boulevard. The suspect stabbed his 29-year-old wife, his wife's 25-year-old brother, and a 24-year-old male neighbor, according to police. All three victims live in Long Beach.
LaToya Goins says she was out walking her grandmother's dog Friday night and came within steps of the suspect before after he exited the apartment complex.
"I'd seen the guy with the knife. He had a huge knife. And he started walking towards Artesia, towards our way, and then he started running and chasing us," Goins said.
Goins says the suspect chased her so she ran into another building and locked the gate.
Police say Hunt crossed to the south side of Artesia Blvd., walked into a convalescent home, and stabbed three female employees: a 23-year-old Bell Gardens resident, a 33-year-old Los Angeles resident and a 24-year-old Whittier resident.
Five of the six victims were transported to a hospital, while one victim was treated at the scene for superficial wounds.
Relatives say Hunt had been released from prison two weeks ago.
"He did get released from prison, but that's irrelevant," Lee said. "He was a good father to his sons. He was a good uncle, good friend, good brother. This is completely out of character of my brother."
Lee questions whether officers needed to resort to gunfire: "They could've used other tactics to get him down. It didn't take a bullet."
Goins says she heard officers instruct Hunt to drop his knife but says he kept walking towards them "like a zombie."
"I believe they acted properly. At that point, he stabbed so many people. I guess you have to protect everybody else. And he didn't stop. He didn't drop the knife," Goins said.
The Long Beach Police Department says it is reviewing the use of force in this case.
And all deadly officer-involved shootings are independently investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.