Man who police say stabbed his mother arrested in San Rafael

San Rafael Police Department

(KRON) — A 26-year-old man who police say stabbed his mother multiple times was arrested in San Rafael early Tuesday morning. San Rafael police received a call just before 1 a.m. reporting a family member had been stabbed by his mother in an apartment in the Fairfax Street apartment complex. Officers arrived at the scene in less than two minutes.

At the scene, officers observed the suspect, identified as Walenton Deleon-Diaz of San Rafael, in the middle of Fairfax Street in front of the apartment complex. The suspect was defiant and yelling at officers when they arrived, police said. Deleon-Diaz did not follow verbal instructions and commands and stated he still had a knife on him, police said.

Witnesses reported to police that the victim was still in the building and had suffered severe stab wounds.

Officers continued to attempt to deescalate the suspect while giving him instructions and orders. Deleon-Diaz indicated he would not obey, according to police. Officers slowly approached him, hoping he would obey.

But as they approached, the suspect reached to the front of his waistband and told police that was where he had the knife. At that moment, officers fired a 40-millimeter pellet at Deleon-Diaz. He was hit by the ammunition and fell to the ground. Officers were then able to arrest him without incident.

When officers reached the apartment, they began life-saving first aid to the victim. Paramedics arrived and took the victim to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The victim is expected to survive and is in stable condition, police said.

During the investigation, officers discovered that the suspect had a verbal argument with his mother that escalated to the point where he stabbed her multiple times with a knife. At this point, other family members intervened and called police.

Deleon-Diaz was medically examined and booked into the Marin County Jail for:

• attempted murder
• chaos
• Assault with a deadly weapon – not a firearm
• criminal threat

Due to the seriousness of the case, a bail increase was requested. Deleon-Diaz is being held on $750,000 bail, police said.