Man arrested following unprovoked stabbing in Santa Monica

A man has been arrested following an unprovoked stabbing that left three people injured in Santa Monica on Sunday evening. 

The incident happened at around 7:30 p.m. near Parking Structure 7 outside of the Third Street Promenade, which is located at Fourth Street and Broadway, according to Santa Monica Police Department officers. 

Circumstances leading up to the stabbing remain unclear, but officers arrived and found three people suffering from injuries following the attack. They administered CPR to one victim until paramedics arrived. 

Two of the victims suffered stab wounds, one of which is said to be in critical but stable condition as of Monday. A third victim was assaulted but did not suffer any major injuries, police said. 

On Monday, the alleged attacker was identified as 29-year-old Larry Ameyal Cedeno. He was arrested and booked at Santa Monica Jail where he awaits arraignment. Police say that he was on probation for larceny, but did not provide any further information. 

They have not yet been able to determine a motive.

The popular area was blocked off for hours as the investigation stretched into the late evening on Sunday.

This incident comes just days after another random attack in Santa Monica, where a woman jogging along the Ocean Walk was yanked by her ponytail by a mentally unstable homeless man who was trying to drag her into a bathroom. 

Though the happenings are unrelated, city officials and residents alike are fed up. 

"It's a symptom of crime not being taken seriously," said Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock. "They're isolated instances, but obviously I not only feel for the victims ... but I feel for every resident in our city who needs that feeling of safety and security."

City leaders say that it's not only happening in their city, and that the issue needs to be addressed a much larger scale. 

"I don't know the circumstances of this particular individual," said Vice Mayor Lana Negrete. "But oftentimes we found out that it's connected to either mental health or substance abuse."

Oscar de la Torre, a Santa Monica City Councilman, echoed that sentiment.

"We've had these incidents happen and it's not just in Santa Monica, I think it's anywhere where you have a homelessness and mental health and addiction crisis," he said.

Anyone with more information was asked to contact SMPD at (310) 458-8427.