Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Thursday Morning's Commute Snarled By Horrible Sight
Witnesses say a man covered in blood parked his vehicle on the 15 Freeway overpass at the 91 Freeway before being shot by police. The man is suspected in today's killing of a young family.
UPDATED AT 7:54 p.m.: Thursday morning's commute was snarled by man who allegedly stabbed to death his two young children and their mother today, police have reported.
According to Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint, during rush hour traffic this morning a man covered in blood and holding a knife in his hand parked at the Interstate 15/Riverside (91) Freeway interchange. Corona police officers tried to make contact with the man, later identified as 23-year-old Selvin Rodriguez, but he was eventually shot, the lieutenant said. Rodriguez was hospitalized and is reportedly in stable condition.
The incident occurred after a woman and her two young children were fatally stabbed this morning at a Riverside residence, allegedly by Rodriguez who is believed to be the kids' father.
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The attack was reported shortly before 7 a.m. in a single-story house in the 10400 block of Granger Court, near Mobley Avenue, on the west end of the city, according to Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint.
"Officers arrived within moments after the 911 call and found three victims of a stabbing," Toussaint said. "They rendered medical aid, and the victims were transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced deceased."
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The names of the 25-year-old mother and her children -- a 4-year-old boy and a 19-month-old girl -- have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Toussaint said that although the suspect was believed to be the father of the children, Rodriguez and the woman were not married.
It was unclear what prompted the stabbing attack, although media reports from the scene indicated that the female victim had tried to obtain a restraining order against Rodriguez. Some neighbors told reporters that Rodriguez had been in the area harassing the woman.
Toussaint said Rodriguez did not live at the home where the stabbings occurred, and the couple had not lived together for several months. Media reports indicate the woman rented a room at the home.
--Toni McAllister contributed to this report.
