Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fontana, CA: Fontana man dies after stabbing wife, self

FONTANA - A violent stabbing spree left one man dead and his wife in critical condition this week following an argument at the couple's house.
The man had attacked his wife with a knife, slashed the hand of a 19-year-old family member and then turned the weapon on himself late Wednesday in a bathroom in the house in the 16200 block of Ceres Avenue, police officers said.
A 14-year-old boy who tried to stop the attack also stabbed the man.
"It sounds like just a gruesome, gruesome scene," Fontana police Officer Billy Green said.
Police officers, who were called to the house for a reported stabbing, found Jose Benitez, 36, and his 35-year-old wife - whose name has not been released - in the shower and covered in blood. The couple was conscious, unable to move and holding their wounds when police entered the bathroom, Green said.
A police officer worked to treat the woman, grabbing clothes from a nearby hamper and putting pressure on her wounds.
"The officer that gave her aid - he saved that woman's life," Green said. "He talked to her and kept her conscious before paramedics arrived."
The woman was transported to a local hospital in critical, but stable, condition.
Benitez died enroute to the hospital.
Before he died, Benitez indicated he had stabbed his wife and then stabbed himself, police said.
The couple had been arguing about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The woman went into the bathroom to take a shower and, at some point, Benitez came into the room and started stabbing her.
"Everything we have is preliminary," Green said regarding details of the violent night. "We know they were in a domestic dispute, but, aside from that, we don't know what it was about."
At the time of the attack, several family members were inside the house, including three girls - ages 19, 16, and 11 - and two boys - ages 14 and 4.
It is unknown what their relation is to the couple.
The family members forced their way into the bathroom when they heard the woman screaming.
When the 19-year-old girl tried to help, Benitez allegedly slashed her in the hand, Green said. The girl was treated and released from a local hospital.
At one point, the 14-year-old boy grabbed a knife and stabbed Benitez. Despite the family member's attempts to stop the attack, Benitez continued to stab the woman in her neck and chest.
Benitez suffered wounds on his neck and chest as well.
"He did stab himself, and he was stabbed by the boy," Green said.
An investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the family can call Fontana police officers at 909-356-TIPS.

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