HEMET: Woman, stabbed multiple times, recovering

HEMET — A woman is recovering after she was stabbed multiple times by an unknown assailant in Hemet late last night. According to witnesses, the violent and bloody incident happened in front of Salvation Army, on the 1400 block of W. Florida Ave.

Despite being repeatedly stabbed, the victim managed to walk a short distance before collapsing along the sidewalk of busy Florida Ave. Officials are hoping potential witnesses who saw all or part of the incident will be able to assist with their ongoing investigation.

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City of Hemet Police and Fire personnel, along with other emergency first responders rushed to the scene around 11:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a stabbing that had just occurred.

When officials arrived they found the victim, who has not yet been identified, collapsed and bleeding profusely on the sidewalk between the Salvation Army and an Auto Zone.

Witnesses at the scene later reported that the critically injured woman was alert and talking, despite sustaining multiple stab injuries.

Officers investigating the deadly incident learned that a man stabbed the woman multiple times. Officials have a description of a vehicle seen fleeing the area after the stabbing; however, they have requested that information not be released yet, pending further investigation and confirmation.

Hemet police officers searched the area for the suspect and the vehicle he had been seen in, but they didn’t immediately locate either.

Although the victim, believed to be in her 40’s, provided officials an area address, witnesses familiar with the woman reported she was homeless.

“As I understand, she sustained pretty serious injuries and bled profusely after being stabbed,” Hemet Police Lt. Jeff Davis later explained in a phone interview.

“The victim was able to provide an initial statement, but we have very limited suspect information at this time,” said Davis, who said the victim was in stable condition. “I’m hoping to learn more after we interview her again later this evening.”

After officials had cleared the scene, a crime scene clean up crew was called in to clean a large pool of blood that had stained the section of the sidewalk where officials found the seriously injured victim.

Officials have not stated if there is a known motive for the attack and have asked that anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the violent attack and has not yet been interviewed to contact Hemet PD at (951) 765-2400. Callers can refer to incident file number 18-6720 and can remain anonymous. Those wishing to provide a tip can also call Hemet PD’s anonymous tip line at (951) 765-3897.

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Will Whelan/Hemet Valley Incidents video

 

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Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.