Six people were injured in a mass stabbing at a Halloween party in West Covina, California, early Sunday morning, and a 22-year-old suspect is being held on $1 million bail.
West Covina Police Department officers responded to the 2000 block of West Pacific Avenue at approximately 1:29 a.m. After receiving reports of a large group fighting in the area, according to law enforcement. Emergency responders arriving at the scene discovered three individuals suffering from stab wounds. Three additional victims later sought treatment at local hospitals with stabbing injuries of their own.
All six victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police confirmed. The incident unfolded during what was described as a Halloween party gathering in the Southern California city.
The breakthrough in the case came through an unexpected tip. Shortly after the altercation, California Highway Patrol officers alerted local police to a vehicle crash near the 10 Freeway and Vincent Avenue off-ramp. The driver of that vehicle, who also suffered stabbing injuries, was linked to the crime scene and taken into custody.
That driver was identified as 22-year-old Luis Antonio Zavala Jr. Of Los Angeles. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the mass stabbing. Investigators confirmed they recovered a weapon believed to have been used in the attack.
Zavala is currently being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to appear at the West Covina Courthouse, though a specific date was not immediately released.
The violence erupted during overnight hours Sunday as revelers gathered for Halloween festivities in the Los Angeles County city of roughly 110,000 residents. The party on West Pacific Avenue drew a large crowd before the situation turned violent, prompting the early morning police response.
The case now moves toward prosecution as the six victims recover from their injuries. The recovered weapon and the suspect’s own injuries will likely factor into the ongoing investigation by West Covina police.
Zavala’s court appearance at the West Covina Courthouse will determine the next procedural steps in the attempted murder case.