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Remembering Karim Abou Najm and David Henry Breaux

The California Aggie

May 4, 2023

Remembering Karim Abou Najm and David Henry Breaux

The Editorial Board grieves with the community after recent stabbing incidents, including two homicides

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD

It has been a distressing week as Davis residents grieve the unexpected deaths of Karim Abou Najm and David Henry Breaux. At the time this article was written, a third stabbing victim was in critical condition. The Editorial Board would like to take this time to acknowledge who Najm and Breaux were and how important they were to the Davis community. As more news continues to develop, it’s understandable to be caught up in the uncertainty, but as you read headlines, it’s important to remember that the victims were real people with real lives. We need to help support one another in the community as we experience these tragedies.

Najm was a 20 year-old, fourth-year computer science major set to graduate from UC Davis this quarter. He was a hard-working student and member of the University Honors Program. Throughout his time at Davis, he contributed to research that helps the community of undergraduate students.

In his second year at Davis, Najm had helped develop Cornische, a student startup network for undergraduate researchers. Cornische functions to help student researchers receive fair pay and incentives for their work. In 2022, the startup won the $500 People’s Choice Award that was sponsored by Blackstone LaundPad. Najm’s accomplishments were the result of his hard work, and his contributions to UC Davis will forever be remembered.

According to the Davis Enterprise, Najm had recently received an award for his software project that would aid people with auditory deficiencies. He has been described as loving and intelligent by his father, and he enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons with the DRAGON club at UC Davis.

The community is also mourning the death of Breaux, who was affectionately known as the “Compassion Guy.” Breaux was a 50-year-old Stanford graduate who spent his time asking people what compassion meant to them. He dedicated his life to answering this question, even publishing a book of his interviews. Maybe not everyone in Davis knew the name David Henry Breaux, but if you were to ask someone, “Who is the Compassion Guy?” there would be plenty of responses.

Breaux is often recognized for his work on the “Compassion Bench” near the farmers market; he’d welcome people to speak with him or just sit and rest on the bench. Through these regular interactions with residents and students, he touched many lives.

It’s also worth mentioning that Breaux and the third stabbing victim were unhoused people. These crimes serve as a reminder of the responsibility we have to protect and support unhoused people in our city. A GoFundMe page has been created to help provide pepper spray and whistles for unhoused people in the area that we encourage you to donate to if you can.

In honor of Breux and the other victims of the recent crimes, the Editorial Board wanted to take the time to share what compassion means to us:

Sophie Dewees — Editor-in-Chief

The dictionary definition of compassion is “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others,” but my personal definition is quite different. Compassion, to me, is unrelated to misfortune or suffering; it is a practice that we can use to better the world around us. We demonstrate compassion by acknowledging that everyone has had different life experiences and that our understanding of the world may be different from others’, respecting others’ opinions and valuing their contributions and, above all, caring for all living things, from the fluffy ducklings in the Arboretum to the poppies blooming by the side of the road to people, even if they’re strangers.

Katie DeBenedetti — Managing Editor

To me, compassion is being aware of what someone else might be going through and doing what you can, when you can, to help.

Sonora Slater — Campus News Editor

On Monday morning, with fears about the second homicide in less than a week swirling around my mind, I ordered a chocolate croissant at the CoHo. The girl working the cashier (who I didn’t know) went to the display case, picked one up, set it down, and picked up another before putting it in a bag. Handing it to me, she conspiratorially whispered, “I made sure to give you the best one.” This sort of small kindness, springing not from any obligation, but only from the desire to make a stranger smile on a hard day, is the definition of compassion for me.

Chris Ponce — City News Editor

There are many right answers to this question, but to me, the act of compassion is authentically and attentively listening to someone.

Owen Ruderman — Opinion Editor

I see compassion as synonymous with empathy and human connection. Compassionate people have the ability to accept and help those around them — they understand that we are all in this together.

Levi Goldstein — Features Editor

Compassion is extending kindness and understanding to everyone, even if they are different from you, and especially those whom society deems outcasts. They are human, too, and in a world that rarely shows them any empathy, they need compassion the most.

Clara Fischer — Arts & Culture Editor

The most critical component of compassion is being kind to and patient with people, even if you don’t necessarily understand them.

Marlon Rolon — Sports Editor

Compassion is helping others who are in need, and that can be in many ways.

Brandon Ngyuen — Science & Tech Editor

Compassion is the ability to recognize someone who is hurting or going through a tough time, and to take action to help them, even if it means just listening and being there for them.

Written by: The Editorial Board

Former UC Davis student, 21, arrested as suspect in Davis stabbings case

The California Aggie

May 4, 2023

Former UC Davis student, 21, arrested as suspect in Davis stabbings case

Carlos Dominguez was a third-year student at UC Davis until last week, according to the university

By CHRIS PONCE, KATIE DEBENEDETTI AND SONORA SLATER — city@theaggie.org

At 2:00 p.m., the Davis Police Department held a press conference to share updates about the investigation into two homicides and one stabbing incident that left a victim in critical condition and discuss the recent person of interest, who they announced as a suspect at the press conference, who had been detained.

The suspect, 21-year-old Carlos Dominguez, has been arrested on two counts of homicide and one count of attempted murder. He was a student at UC Davis until last week when he was “separated for academic reasons,” according to a release from the university. The suspect is now at the Yolo County jail and final charges will be determined in the coming days.

Dominguez was detained Wednesday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. after being stopped by patrol officers responding to around 15 call-in tips from community members who spotted him on the corner of Colby Drive and Pine Lane, a block from Sycamore Park. Dominguez was in possession of a large hunting-style knife in a backpack at the time and had injuries on his hands and wrists, according to Police Chief Darren Pytel.

“We arrested him first for possessing a large knife that was on him when we picked him up that was consistent with what we were looking for based on evidence from the first homicide,” Pytel said. “Just about an hour ago, we placed him under arrest on two counts of homicide and one count of attempted murder. “

Dominguez did not appear to be under the influence of any substances and does not have clear mental health issues, although that, along with his motive, is still under investigation.

Davis Mayor Will Arnold said that at this time, the Davis Police Department is confident that they have arrested the person responsible for all three crimes.

“A murderer is off the streets and our families will sleep easier tonight,” Arnold said at Wednesday’s press conference.

Pytel said that the crimes were “particularly brazen and brutal,” and that it was “strange” that Dominguez returned to the scene of the second attack on Wednesday. He added that at this time, it is unknown if Dominguez knew any of the victims or if the attacks were targeted, though they do not appear to have been.

Dominguez was arrested first for possessing the large knife that was on his person when he was picked up, which was consistent with what we were looking for based on evidence from the first homicide. About 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, he was placed under arrest on two counts of homicide and one count of attempted murder.

On Thursday morning, police got a warrant for his current residence on Hawthorn Street, and were searching the home. Pytel confirmed that he lived with roommates, who have been questioned. He also confirmed that Dominguez had been back to the residence since last Thursday, when the first attack occurred.

Dominguez will be arraigned at the Yolo County Court as early as Monday. Chancellor Gary May said that normal campus operations should also resume soon, likely on Monday.

Both Pytel and Arnold expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the victims, David Henry Breaux, Karim Abou Najm, and the woman, Kim, who was injured in the third attack.

“Let us not forget that their lives have been irreparably impacted,” Arnold said. “We will never forget David and Karim, and we will continue to hope and pray that Kim makes a speedy and full recovery.”

Written by: Chris Ponce, Katie DeBenedetti and Sonora Slater — city@theaggie.org

Police detain ‘person of interest,’ expected to announce arrest Thursday afternoon

The California Aggie

May 4, 2023

Police detain ‘person of interest,’ expected to announce arrest Thursday afternoon

A man was detained just a block from Sycamore Park, the scene of Saturday night’s fatal stabbing

By KATIE DEBENEDETTI — city@theaggie.org

A person of interest has been detained following the string of stabbings in Davis this past week. Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, a witness saw a man who matched the suspect profile released by the Davis Police Department following the third attack on Monday night. Police reported that “a male with a light complexion, with curly hair, 5’6”-5’9” tall, and thin build, […] last seen wearing: a dark hoodie, black “Adidas” style pants with a white stripe, black shoes and a brown backpack,” was seen fleeing the scene on Monday night.

The witness said that she saw the person of interest in the Safeway parking lot on Covell Avenue yesterday afternoon. The woman said she began to follow the person in her car, stating she thought he matched the suspect description and was acting suspiciously. She followed him to Pine Lane, a block away from Sycamore Park, where the second fatal stabbing occurred on Saturday night.

Around 4:30 p.m., police officers stopped the person of interest, who was wearing black “Adidas-like” sweats with a white stripe and had shoulder-length curly hair, on the corner of Pine Lane and Colby Drive. Officers spoke to the man on the street for about 10 minutes before he was driven away from the scene in a patrol car.

Davis Police Lt. Dan Beckwith has confirmed that the person of interest was taken into custody as of Wednesday evening. He also said that though police are taking “standard investigative steps,” the man is not a suspect and has not been linked to any of the crimes at this time.

The Davis Police Department has collected biological evidence from all three of the crime scenes and are beginning to analyze early returns from the evidence, according to a statement from the department.

In a crime update, Davis police also shared that there has been inaccurate information and images of suspects shared on social media. Authorities have also worked with a witness from the second homicide to draft a sketch of the suspect. However, after the witness said the sketch didn’t accurately depict the suspect, the sketch was deemed “not viable for use.”

This isn’t the first time Davis authorities have detained a person of interest. Earlier this week police booked a different person who “closely matched the suspect description.”

“Physical evidence was collected and a search warrant was issued for a location in Davis that the subject is associated with,” Davis police said. “The subject was later booked at the Yolo County Jail for an outstanding warrant issued out of Placer County for public intoxication and resisting arrest.”

The Davis Police Department has announced that they will be holding a press conference this afternoon at 2 p.m. that will be broadcasted on their Facebook page. The Sacramento Bee has reported that they expect Davis PD will announce the arrest of the person of interest detained on Sycamore Lane Wednesday afternoon at the conference.

Around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday morning, following the announcement of the afternoon’s press conference, police were seen at 762 Hawthorn Lane, a block from where the person of interest was detained yesterday evening and close by Sycamore Park. Though there has been no announcement as to whether this search is related to the case at this time and Davis police have said no further updates will be made until the 2:00 p.m. press conference out of respect for services being held for Karim Abou Najm today.

This story is developing, check back for updates. Last updated: May 4, 12:00 p.m.

Written by: Katie DeBenedetti — city@theaggie.org

On the Davis Police Department

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

By ERIKA “KIKI” GEDGAUDAS — emgedgaudas@ucdavis.edu

For nearly two years, my friends and I have joked about how safe Davis is, how walking and biking at night is a common, enjoyable occurrence, how the unlit streets of Davis aren’t a problem because clearly seeing the stars is a joy. Over the last five days, though, my friends and I were proven wrong three times over. I have never felt a thicker air of paranoia shared amongst so many people following the week’s tragedies.

What is the city and campus of Davis doing to quell our fears? For starters, a shelter-in-place order was implemented — for four hours. My classes were canceled — for one day, and by the discretion of professors, not administrators. The consensus among the powers of Davis seems to be that residents of Davis should “really” be more careful about their activity; Police chief Darren Pytel put it best, saying, “People have to make smart choices about where it is they go, what it is that they’re doing and whether they’re able to pay attention to their surroundings.”

Pytel choosing to shift the blame onto the victims, students and residents of Davis isn’t just a mistake, it’s what the department does best. The Davis Enterprise, reporting on the most recent stabbing, notes that the victim’s friends called the police two hours before she was stabbed, with no response. The group (yes, they were in a group, something the Davis Police Department (DPD) has repeatedly advised residents of Davis to do) correctly identified the suspect, but the local police incredulously chose to ignore the potentially life-saving tip.

In his press conference to the city of Davis, Pytel touted the number of resources that have been made available to the department, including, but not limited to, the Sacramento, West Sacramento, Yolo County and Elk Grove police departments, two K9 units and multiple crime labs, including one operated by the Department of Justice. Yet, their combined powers failed to apprehend the suspect who reportedly escaped on foot.

My qualm with the language directed toward the residents of Davis, therefore, lies in Pytel’s lack of explanation as to how the force dedicated to “protect and serve” our city is unquestionably failing to do so. He claims that in 40 years, the DPD has never seen incidents like these unfolding. How can we trust a police force that is so clearly incompetent at addressing crime? Were the victims of the stabbings simply forgetting to make “smart choices”? How are we, a majority population of students under the age of 27, meant to take care of ourselves when those whose job it is to keep us safe admit to not being able to do so?

It is difficult to put my outrage into words, and difficult to find a moment to grieve when enrolled at an institution that has barely taken a moment to pay respects to the lost life of a student. We, as a campus and as a community, suddenly find ourselves adjacent to tragedy yet unsure how to proceed. I am, of course, grateful that there have been some moments of closure among the community, through vigils, social media posts and email blasts, sentimental or hollow as they may be; I cannot continue living in fear without condemning the actions — or rather, the inaction — taken by those we are told to trust.

Written by: Erika “Kiki” Gedgaudas — emgedgaudas@ucdavis.edu

Kiki is a second-year English major at UC Davis.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

‘It wasn’t prioritized at the highest level’: Davis police chief addresses tip received two hours before third stabbing

City News

May 3, 2023

‘It wasn’t prioritized at the highest level’: Davis police chief addresses tip received two hours before third stabbing

Tuesday’s regularly planned city council meeting cleared its agenda to discuss ongoing crimes and the city’s plan to protect the unhoused community

By HANNAH SCHRADER AND CHRIS PONCE — city@theaggie.org

City council met yesterday to discuss the most recent developments in the three stabbing incidents and what actions are being taken to provide support for the unhoused community during these times.

The meeting occurred one day after a third stabbing incident in one week left a 64-year-old woman in critical condition. The victim, currently unnamed, was an unhoused individual living in a homeless encampment near 2nd and L Streets. She is currently in critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery, according to Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel.

At the meeting, Pytel discussed a tip that the Davis Police Department received two hours before the third stabbing. The tip was provided by a local unhoused person who thought they saw an individual at the homeless encampment near 2nd and L who matched the suspect profile given after the second homicide.

“We did receive a call from people in that area reporting that they thought that they saw somebody that matched the description of the suspect in the second homicide,” Pytel said. “The description that was provided was rather vague and the information was rather vague, other than [that] the person was near their camps and appeared to be hiding behind trees at times. Based on the information provided […] it wasn’t prioritized at the highest level. And as it turns out, it’s likely that the information was accurate and that probably was the suspect.”

Pytel discussed the likelihood that the stabbings are linked, stating it was “more probable than not.” Pytel said the connection between the two homicides and the third stabbing is that attacks were “particularly brutal in nature,” leading investigators to believe it is very possible the same person committed all three crimes.

Pytel shared some of the goals Davis police and supporting agencies have established so far. He said that it’s a priority to increase police presence and security in the city and to respond in a more timely manner to tips from residents. He shared that police have received a large number of tips, many of which are reporting people that match the suspect’s description.

Pytel talked about the idea of a city-wide curfew, stating that he doesn’t believe it would be a good use of resources at this time.

“In circumstances like this, what that would look like is basically shutting down our city and closing down our businesses and requiring people to be at home at certain times,” Pytel said. “[…] I don’t think it’s a good use of resources to try and enforce a curfew. I would rather that people are out and about in numbers and one of our biggest preventions of crime is what we call displacement.”

Mayor Will Arnold then invited the council to ask Pytel any questions they had. Councilmember Bapu Vaitla asked about Davis’s lack of lighting, particularly in parks, which has been a concern for many members of the community.

“How feasible or effective would temporary lighting in parks and/or surveillance cameras be?” Vaitla asked.

Pytel responded that they should set up temporary cameras at certain locations and that as things change, he might make additional suggestions. Pytel said the issue is more complicated than it might seem.

“Crime requires light. And so when you have dark areas, people need to use flashlights in order to be able to see,” Pytel said. “Flashlights stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the night. […] Some of our advice is stay in the well-lighted areas and avoid some of the dark areas. It’s kind of double-edged depending on the issue.”

The city also unveiled its Unsheltered Community Plan at the meeting, which will provide approximately two dozen emergency beds and meals to unhoused people who wish to be sheltered indoors. The plan, in partnership with Davis Community Meals, will provide shelter at Paul’s Place and at its location on 5th Street.

Dana Bailey, the director of social services and housing for the city, stated at the meeting that the city has activated a crisis response network and reached out to service providers for help. The city has mainly been surveying how it can best serve the unhoused population at this time.

Bailey then went on to state the unhoused community is “really afraid right now” and “we want to be careful about reaching out to them” because “it’s hard for them when strangers reach out.” Bailey instead encouraged people who want to help the unhoused community at this time to work with local organizations.

“The members of our community who are experiencing homelessness […] these are our fellow community members,” Mayor Arnold said. “We’re so fortunate to have […] this piece of our community, all of us working in unison to try to make sure this violence stops.”

For more information on how to help the Davis unhoused community please visit the Davis Community Meals and Housing website at https://daviscommunitymeals.org or reach the CommuniCare Daytime Respite Center at 530-758-0354.

Written By: Hannah Schrader and Chris Ponce — city@theaggie.org

Davis community gathers together to hold vigil honoring the life of David Henry Breaux, the ‘Compassion Guy’

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Davis community gathers together to hold vigil honoring the life of David Henry Breaux, the ‘Compassion Guy’

Following the homicide in Central Park, people gathered together at the “Compassion Bench” to share how their lives were touched by Breaux

By CHRIS PONCE — city@theaggie.org

On Sunday, April 30, less than a week after the fatal stabbing in Central Park, the Davis community came together to hold a vigil for the victim, a respected member of the community, David Henry Breaux. The event, which featured city council members, county supervisors, friends and family of Breaux alike, was hosted by the Davis Phoenix Coalition. The event had a large turnout, candles were handed to those in attendance and dozens of flowers were placed at the “Compassion Bench.”

The “Compassion Bench,” which is located at the corner of 3rd and C Streets, is the area where for the last decade, Breaux has asked anyone who came his way what compassion meant to them. Breaux, who was well known as the “Compassion Guy,” was a 50-year-old Stanford University graduate. He published a book titled “Compassion Davis, CA: A Compilation of Concepts on Compassion,” which contained interviews of people’s definitions of compassion. Breux touched many Davis residents’ lives, which could be seen at the event as people spoke about compassion, forgiveness and what Breux represented in the community.

Councilmember Gloria Partida, an organizer with the Davis Phoenix Coalition, spoke first at the event.

“Even though this is a horrible tragedy, and today we know that we are marking two deaths in the city, it still gives me strength to look out to your faces and to see that we are here for each other,” Partida said. “I know that right now there is a great deal of anxiety in the community and so many questions and so many need of answers. And we will get to your answers, and we will answer your questions and we will take care of each other because that is what we do.”

Mayor Will Arnold also spoke about a second homicide victim, UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm, and the distress the city has been in during the last few days.

“This has been an absolutely devastating few days for our community,” Arnold said. “No more so than for the loved ones, friends and family of David and Karim. And on behalf of the city of Davis, I extend our deepest condolences. These are two people with so much more life to live, so much more wisdom to share, so much more love to give. These are two horrendous acts, acts of violence that befell two peaceful, loving members of our community for absolutely no conceivable reason. These are two of our shared gathering spaces, where I love to let my own children run free, that are now the sights of two of the most heinous acts our city has ever witnessed.”

Yolo County Supervisors Lucas Frerichs and Jim Provenza also spoke at the vigil. Frerichs said that Breaux would be humbled to see the turnout for the vigil and that the impact of Breaux’s work extends across the nation.

While Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D–Winters) couldn’t be in attendance, Frerichs said that the state assembly will be meeting in Breaux’s memory.

Frerichs welcomed UC Davis Alumni Brennan Bird, who helped create the “Compassion Bench” in 2013. Bird talked about how moved he was by Breaux’s work.

The “Compassion Bench” is located on the corners of 3rd and C Streets. (Chris Ponce / Aggie)

“David, we love you so much, thank you for inspiring me to be a more compassionate human,” Bird said. […] “As I was thinking how is David’s legacy going to continue into my own life, I have never met anyone who has so devoted to a cause and, David, you’ve really inspired me to dig in deeper and to really just further devote my life to fighting for the Earth, fighting for a more compassionate Earth.”

Bill Pride, the director of Davis Community Meals, talked about his experience with Breaux. Pride said that no one had a perspective like Breaux and that even though he was unhoused, he only thought about others.

Becky Margio, a program supervisor and case manager for Davis Community Meals, spoke about their relationship with Breaux. Margio said that Breaux would sing and write songs. Many at the event, Margio included, described Breaux as “peaceful.” Margio shared that recently, Breaux had talked to them about moving into Paul’s Place.

“Just about a month ago he had called and he had talked to us about moving into Paul’s Place, and we were really excited about that, and we had hoped that could happen,” Margio said. “We had a really good conversation and I’ll remember that forever.”

One of the final speakers was Maria Breaux, David Breaux’s sister, who talked about her brother and his love for compassion. She shared a story about how when they were kids, he was being bullied and she asked him if he was going to fight back.

“He started crying and he said, ‘I can’t, I can’t hurt them, I don’t want to hurt them,’” Maria Breaux said. “And he wept, he wept for these two kids who were teasing him and from a very young age, extended an act of compassion.”

Maria Breaux said that her brother was committed to restorative justice and his mission of compassion. She shared that when she was going through old messages with him, she found one he sent her on Sept. 23, 2016, about forgiving those who harm him.

“If I’m ever harmed, and unable to speak for myself, forgive the perpetrator and help others forgive that person,” Breaux messaged his sister. “Today while at the bench in Davis, I experienced someone who seemed to want to hurt me. I’m noticing incidents here in the town of people actively opposed to who I am and what I do. Forgive.”

Maria Breaux shared her response.

“I wrote back, I’ll forgive and encourage others to do the same,” Breaux said. “Hope you’re okay, I love you. So my last words, my last word really, tonight, is forgive.”

Written By: Chris Ponce — city@theaggie.org

Campus authorities move evening classes online, expand Safe Rides services

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Campus authorities move evening classes online, expand Safe Rides services

Aggie Compass is also helping unhoused students and TAPS will eliminate evening parking fees

By SONORA SLATER — campus@theaggie.org

Campus authorities have announced expanded safety services and guidance on holding evening events and classes online following a string of stabbings in Davis over the past week.

The victims of the attacks included UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm, a fourth-year computer science major who was killed while biking home from a research award ceremony. Many members of the campus community have called for increased safety measures to be put in place in the wake of these events, and at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May and UC Davis Chief of Police Joseph Farrow gave announcements about the campus’s response.

Daytime classes will proceed as normal, according to May, unless specific professors communicate otherwise. However, the Academic Senate has made the decision to move classes and discussions that take place or end after 6 p.m. online, and the university’s Safe Ride program will now be available from 8 p.m.-3 a.m. seven days a week, effective immediately.

Farrow noted that nine law enforcement vehicles will be patrolling the campus at night, along with 12 officers, up from the usual four. Law enforcement officers from UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley are also in the area to assist with patrols and extra security has been contracted from Members in Black (MIB) private security.

For Safe Rides: Call 530-754-COPS (2677) or use the TransLoc app, which you can download for free. Police recommend using the app. Unitrans buses run until 10 p.m., but due to a lingering shortage of drivers and concern for the student drivers’ own safety, they are unable to go longer. Unitrans is also consolidating bus arrivals and departures after 8:10 p.m. to the Memorial Union bus terminal. Yolobus provides later options on Route 42A/B, departing the Memorial Union terminal and heading toward Woodland and Sacramento at slightly later times.

UC Davis HR sent a memo to managers at supervisors at the university encouraging them to allow flexibility for employees who work during the late or early hours, according to an email from May on May 2. He also said that the campus is looking into “temporary lighting to provide greater visibility in high-traffic areas,” and has installed additional cameras outside as part of a previously planned project.

The email went on to say that staff, faculty and students should know that Transportation Services (TAPS) will pause enforcement of parking fees from 6 p.m.-7 a.m. for the time being, allowing free parking on campus except in restricted spaces.

Aggie Compass sent an email to the campus community on May 2 announcing their plans to help unhoused students who are in need of shelter during this time.

“If you are currently sleeping in your vehicle, or outside, we want to provide you with support in light of the recent attacks in Davis,” the email read. “If you need temporary support for sheltering inside, please fill out this form. We’re reviewing requests until 6 p.m. and will begin again each day at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.”

ASUCD President Radhika Gawde, Internal Vice President JT Eden, External Affairs Vice President Celene Aridin and Academic Affairs Chair Megan Chung sent a letter to the UC Academic Senate on May 2 asking them to adopt emergency remote instruction for all courses until the suspect(s) are apprehended and/or mandate lecture capture for all classrooms equipped to do so.

The student leaders said that as part of their own response to the events, they have adjusted the hours at the CoHo to eliminate evening and early morning shifts, moved evening meetings online and asked ASUCD leadership to ensure that their student employees are not required to come to campus for “non-essential duties.”

“UC Davis students are justifiably fearful for their safety,” the letter reads. “As long as the perpetrator of these attacks remains at large, students are unable to safely travel to and from class. Both students and faculty deserve at minimum the option to stay home and attend classes remotely. We should not have to choose between our safety and academic success.”

As of 3:39 p.m., there were 4,320 responses to an ASUCD poll gathering student opinions on the recent incidents, with 97.9% of students expressing that they would benefit from hybrid learning options for their classes, and 87.4% of respondents describing themselves as feeling unsafe attending classes during the day.

One anonymous student testimonial submitted to the survey reads, “[Please] postpone quizzes/exams taking place this week until next week at least. Anxiety around this situation makes it extremely difficult to focus, learn, and study.”

Written by: Sonora Slater — campus@theaggie.org

Everything’s bigger in Texas

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Drawn by: Sandhya Pfile –– sbpfile@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: (This cartoon is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

Zero Waste and Sustainability Club hosts concert in Central Park

Campus News

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Zero Waste and Sustainability Club hosts concert in Central Park

The event featured local bands, vendors and artisans

By RACHEL GAUER— campus@theaggie.org

On Sunday, April 23, UC Davis’s Zero Waste and Sustainability Club partnered with the city of Davis to host an outdoor concert in Central Park. The concert was the club’s first large event and featured local bands, clubs and vendors.

Eva Barajas-Carmona, a third-year environmental science and management major and one of the co-presidents of the Zero Waste Club, talked about the first steps of making the concert come to life.

“This planning process took a while,” Barajas-Carmona said. “When we were talking to people about our club, we were already talking about a possible concert. We’ve had this idea for a while, and we really started to get into the planning process at the end of fall quarter. The city of Davis got involved and co-sponsored the event, and things really blossomed from there.”

The concert was held in Central Park in downtown Davis, which is not technically campus property. Kili Kato, a second-year marine and coastal sciences major, and the communications officer for the Zero Waste and Sustainability club, commented on how the club was able to successfully secure the venue.

“The city of Davis was more than helpful in the complicated process of getting the correct permits and paperwork for the event,” Kato said. “We were very fortunate [that] the city of Davis Sustainability Program offered to co-sponsor the event to help promote sustainability ideals in [the Davis] community.”

Amelia Swanson, a second-year design major and co-president of the club, described other partnerships with local groups that helped make the event possible.

“We’ve been reaching out to different local bands since January,” Swanson said. “We have also been attending the farmers market on Saturday mornings to find local artists, and we went downtown to talk to small shops like the Growing Groves.”

The concert lasted from 3-7 p.m. and featured five local bands: The Silver Lining, Baby at the Bar, First Name Basis, Decent Action and Cowboys After Dark.

For two of the featured bands — The Silver Lining and Baby at the Bar — the Zero Waste Concert was their first live show. Oscar Alonso, who is a songwriter, guitar player and singer for The Silver Lining, commented on his band’s first experience playing live at the event.

“It was nervewracking, but also great, and we had a lot of fun,” Alonso said. “We had our little trips but we recovered from them quickly and overall it was a really good experience. Davis is a really nice town, and this stage is so welcoming — I feel like the people here welcomed us with open arms.”

In addition to the bands, the event featured several local vendors and clubs that also attracted event-goers. The booths included local shops like Growing Groves, as well as UC Davis organizations, such as Aggie Trading Post and The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF).

The Aggie Trading Post, a sustainable clothing “trade-style” organization, is a portable thrift shop for clothes. Although they typically operate in a “trade-clothes-for-clothes” fashion, they encouraged concert-goers to pick a few pieces regardless of whether they had anything to give in return or not.

Additionally, TGIF tabled to advertise their fee referendum on the ASUCD spring election ballot. They provided flyers with QR codes leading directly to the voting website to encourage concert-goers to cast their vote this week.

Barajas-Camona reflected on the process of organizing the event and seeing it come together.

“We’ve been planning this for so long; it’s been a huge undertaking for every single officer,” Barajas-Carmona said. “To finally see all our hard work come to life is something I am so excited [about]. It really started as a small idea about six months ago and I can’t believe we made it happen.”

Written By: Rachel Gauer — campus@theaggie.org

Culture Corner

Arts & Culture

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more

By ANA BACH — arts@theaggie.org

Song: “waves – Tame Impala Remix” (2016) by Miguel

Talk about an anthem for the summer! Tame Impala never fails to impress with his mix of synthetic beats, but Miguel’s voice on the record elevates the song in a new way. The harmonies and melodies are superb — not to mention the musical engineering on the track. Every time I listen, I feel like I am instantly transported to the ocean. The sounds genuinely feel in sync with the waves in the ocean. Overall, this artist duo creates an angelic and euphoric feeling, and I hope that they will release more collaborations in the future.

TV show: “Entourage” (2004)

This HBO sitcom loosely recreates Mark Wahlberg’s early years of fame through the character Vince and his buddies as they migrate west from Queens, New York City. Vince, played by 2000s heartthrob Adrian Grenier, is a movie star on the rise in Hollywood. His “entourage” includes his less-successful half-brother Johnny, his best friend and agent Eric and their goofy pal Turtle. Together, the four navigate the ins and outs of Los Angeles while discovering where they fit within West Coast culture. The quick-witted humor and overall demeanor of the characters provide the perfect comedic relief. On top of this, the star-studded cast, complete with guest appearances by many early 2000s personalities, makes the show a light-hearted, entertaining watch.

Movie: “Almost Famous” (2000) dir. by Cameron Crowe

Cameron Crowe directs this true story about a fifteen-year-old music fan, William, whose love for music takes him to unexpected places. When he lands a job working for Rolling Stone, he is tasked with reporting on Stillwater, an up-and-coming band. Despite the wishes of his overprotective mother, William accompanies them on their tour and embarks on a journey with the help of Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), a passionate lover of the band and music in general. This film oozes nostalgia in a way that is so comforting for the audience to watch. I don’t know if I’m just a sucker for the ‘70s, but the stylistic elements, plot and acting all culminate to make this film iconic. I love seeing the side of music that we rarely get the privilege of experiencing. This film is a true ode to rock ‘n’ roll and music’s ability to bridge the gaps between people from all walks of life.

Book: “Blue Nights” by Joan Didion

Joan Didion’s masterful and unique style of memoir writing is hard to match, and is especially the case in her memoir “Blue Nights.” The memoir offers an insight into her grievances towards the passing of her daughter, Quintana, at age 39. Didion recounts the emotions and memories that come with parenthood, especially when losing a child. Didion has a talent for taking emotionally charged experiences and morphing them to showcase their beauty. The title refers to the summer solstice when the twilights are blue and the nights are longer. Didion compares the way that we process grief to the inevitable dwindling of a day coming to an end. Didion is unable to make sense of her own emotions regarding the chaos she faces, which is something the reader can ultimately sympathize with. This novel is a great read, featuring so many valuable lessons to carry throughout adulthood.

Written by: Ana Bach — arts@theaggie.org

Happy spring!

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

How to spend the best season in Davis

By YASMEEN O’BRIEN — yjobrien@ucdavis.edu

Flowers begin to blossom, big jackets hang unworn in our closets and the warm sun comes out for the first time in what feels like forever; spring is here. And in Davis, it’s a very special time — my favorite time of the year.

Campus feels lively again. People are out and about, lying on the grass in the quad, grabbing an iced drink at the CoHo or walking to their next class with friends. The Arboretum blooms. Happy people picnic alongside waddling ducks. Hammocks sway in the quad’s breeze.

UC Davis’s springtime traditions of Picnic Day and Whole Earth Festival keep the community engaged and excited about what’s next. The farmers market is more eagerly attended by long-time residents and college students alike.

Summer break is in sight as students begin the final push, the last quarter of the year. There is a certain feeling of anticipation hanging in the air that I’ve found comes with spring quarter.

With nice weather comes the desire to be outside — or in my case, the need. But sometimes it can be hard to come up with outdoor activities to do, especially after finally mastering all the indoor winter activities.

If you’re looking for a calm afternoon, take a walk through the Arboretum. Maybe bring a blanket and a good book or some snacks and sit by the duck pond. If you’re looking for a little more adventure, head to the rope swing at Putah Creek to go swimming (the entrance is by UC Davis’s Hydraulics Lab located on Brooks Road). For those who are able to go a little farther, you can also head to Lake Berryessa for some swimming or hiking. There’s a yummy fruit stand you can stop at to grab some snacks on the way. I haven’t found or heard of a rope swing there, but maybe you can be the first to build one!

If none of these ideas are tickling your fancy, fear not. I have a couple more recommendations. Take a bike ride down Russell Boulevard to the cute little town of Winters. There’s a really tasty restaurant there that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner called Putah Creek Cafe which is relatively inexpensive.

Attend Saturday’s farmers market and sun yourself in Central Park. They even have live music sometimes if you’re lucky. You can also grab an iced drink at a coffee shop in downtown Davis — Mishka’s, Philz and Temple are popular spots.

There are endless things to do now that the sun is shining — much more than I can name. I hope you all have a happy outdoor season!

Written by: Yasmeen O’Brien — yjobrien@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

What is the inner child?

Features

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Inner child work is more than an online trend, according to psychotherapists

By KACEY CHAN — features@theaggie.org

Students may have come across TikTok posts about someone taking a self-care day or buying a fidget toy. These videos are often tagged something along the lines of “#innerchildhealing” or “#innerchildwork.” However, a lot of people might not know what an “inner child” even is and may just consider it another pseudoscience online trend.

The inner child is, in fact, a very real concept in psychotherapy though. Carl Jung, the famous psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology, is credited with first proposing the inner child concept.

Essentially, it is a part of us which sits inside our minds and influences who we are and the decisions we make, according to an article from the CPTSD Foundation.

“Inner children were us when we were kids that never grew up,” the website reads. “Adults are covertly controlled by their unconscious inner child […] and it is the lens through which injured adults make their decisions.”

Working to heal your inner child can take many forms. Instead of there being one specific methodology of “inner child work,” there are many different approaches that therapists utilize in their practices. Areas such as internal family systems therapy, ego-state therapy and schema therapy are all proven ways of working to heal the inner child, as stated in an article from Time Magazine.

Sevil Gonen, LMFT, is a therapist at a Davis practice, Three Figs Counseling. She employs inner child work through her specialty — emotion-focused therapy (EFT).

“Emotions run fast and hot,” Gonen said. “Because that neural wiring is so fast, EFT helps by slowing way down and rewiring that in a healthy way so it sticks.”

EFT is based on the idea that emotion drives behavior. Gonen said that she often sees peoples’ inner children being utilized when she works with couples.

“When couples fight about the dishes, it’s never really about the dishes,” Gonen said. “Rather, the conflict is the interaction between the two partners and something underlying it going on.”

According to Gonen, one partner might perceive the dishes as a long to-do list that needs to be finished as soon as possible and therefore panic about it. From the other partner’s perspective, though, the dishes are just fine; they are happy to do what the former wants but don’t understand why their partner is so stressed.

“In therapy, maybe we learn [that] in their childhood, the [stressed] partner was taught to be quiet or not make a fuss, leading them to struggle with asking for help as an adult,” Gonen said. “Over time, we can heal that wound in this person’s inner child.”

Inner child work is not only applicable for couples but is also extremely beneficial for individual therapy. A particular exercise Gonen employs is roleplay. The idea, essentially, is that the therapist acts as a medium for the individual to create a dialogue with their past and unpack painful experiences.

“If the experience involves a parent, for example, I may ask them what that parent would say realistically,” Gonen said. “Then afterward, I’d ask them to state what a strong, wonderful parent would say to you instead.”

Gonen said she wants her clients to visualize what their inner child needs and then provide it for themselves instead.

“I want to empower the individual to become what they needed as a kid, what their inner child now needs today,” Gonen said.

Inner child work helps people by allowing them to acknowledge their past and heal from it. Some individuals may have had wonderful, less traumatic childhoods with emotionally well-adjusted parents, making them able to form secure attachments. Others might have instead faced trauma or other difficult circumstances causing them to ignore their inner child and not process those experiences in a healthy way.

“As we grow up, our inner child gets continually muted,” Gonen said. “We may set aside their needs to be an adult and be responsible, but that doesn’t change the inner child screaming inside us.”

This contrast in childhood is why certain couples might see one person being consistently more stressed than the other or starting arguments, according to Gonen.

“Their partner may not understand why the other is in turmoil and why things are so challenging,” Gonen said.

Those with healthier childhoods generally become more in tune with their inner child and are able to handle such stressors, while those who are not tend to struggle more with processing stressors.

In regards to the social media trend, Gonen believes the trend represents young people utilizing an innocence they feel they’ve lost.

“I see a lot of teens, and I’ve noticed this shift where they accomplish all these things like learning a language, getting into school, then getting their dream job, but they are now more depressed and dissatisfied than before,” Gonen said. “Because they don’t have enough time to both fulfill these goals and find what makes them happy, young people get distracted by these supposed metrics of success and miss out on finding happiness.”

According to Gonen, connecting to the inner child is a way for teens to take a break from life stressors and remember what they actually want and need.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to healing the inner child, it is an extremely useful part of therapy that allows individuals to process traumas in a healthy way. While it is possible to work on your inner child by yourself through online resources, according to Time Magazine, it can be especially beneficial to work with a mental health professional. It can help people form adult relationships with healthy boundaries and also empower individuals to become what they needed growing up.

“The work is slow,” Gonen said. “But once we can acknowledge the past and heal it, we actually heal the present time too.”

Written by: Kacey Chan — features@theaggie.org

Teachers, activists, residents rally for trans youth following anti-trans speaker event

City News

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Teachers, activists, residents rally for trans youth following anti-trans speaker event

Members of the Davis community, Davis Phoenix Coalition held a protest in opposition to event at Mary L. Stephens Davis Library

By MADELEINE YOUNG AND CHRIS PONCE — city@theaggie.org

Content Warning: This article contains discussions of transphobia and suicide

On April 22, members of the Davis Phoenix Coalition, as well as parents, teachers and other Davis residents gathered to protest in opposition to a speaker event featuring Dr. Colin Wright at the Mary L. Stephens Davis Library. The speaker event, which was titled “The Biology of Sex and Gender Curricula in CA Public Schools,” sparked controversy amongst many in Davis who believe it was a transphobic event.

Among those protesting was Rachel Warren, a scientist and engineer from Davis. As a scientist, Warren shared her reaction to Wright and the event.

“There’s no place in Davis for right-wing transphobia and misinformation,” Warren said. “And using science as a pretext for bigotry and fascism is just plain wrong. As a scientist, I denounce that. A pseudoscientist and entomologist has no credentials to be speaking to whether or not gender and sex are binary or nonbinary. And the science shows that it’s a spectrum. And if he [Wright] was a true scientist, he would know that.”

Wright is an entomologist and according to his website, an evolutionary biologist. The event was hosted by Yolo County Moms for Liberty, an organization that advocates for “parental rights.” Yolo County Moms for Liberty invited Wright to speak about his belief that there is no distinction between sex and gender. On April 21, Wright stated on Twitter that gender ideology is “harmful” and that activists tried to cancel his event.

“Activists in Davis have attempted (and failed) to get my event canceled, and are now planning to protest my talk on the biology of sex and the harms of gender ideology,” Wright tweeted. “They refer to me as an ‘anti-trans speaker’ and call my talk a ‘message of hate.’”

Anoosh Jorjorian, an organizer of the protest and the director of Yolo Rainbow Families, discussed recent anti-trans movements in Yolo County and the organization Yolo County Moms for Liberty.

“Moms for Liberty is a national organization that has been primarily pro-censorship,” Jorjorian said. “So they are trying to eliminate books about the LGBTQ+ community and books about anti-racism, anything that challenges the ‘Make America Great Again’ narrative. And this chapter in Yolo County seems to have been started specifically for anti-trans activities.”

Solidarity Action Yolo is a new project started by the Davis Phoenix Coalition with the intent of supporting marginalized communities in Yolo County, according to Jorjorian.

“Davis Phoenix Coalition recently started a project called ‘Solidarity Action Yolo,’” Jorjorian said. “This is a listserv for community members of this area. Whenever our marginalized communities are under attack, whether it’s the LGBTQ+ community, our immigrant community [or] a Black Lives Matter incident, then we rally the community to help support those marginalized communities.”

Among those protesting in support of trans youth was Beth Ochsner, a fourth-grade teacher in Davis, who stated why teaching kids that there is only one gender binary is detrimental to students.

“I think it’s really important that trans kids know that there’s support for them and [we don’t believe the] pseudoscience that there is only one gender binary,” Ochsner said. “I feel like it’s important to really understand that when trans people aren’t supported, they are much more likely to commit suicide and so trans lives are literally on the line.”

Written By: Madeleine Young and Chris Ponce — city@theaggie.org

Three stabbings in Davis this week leave two dead, one in critical condition

The California Aggie

May 3, 2023

Three stabbings in Davis this week leave two dead, one in critical condition

The search for a suspect or suspects is ongoing as FBI and neighboring police departments join in

By KATIE DEBENEDETTI — city@theaggie.org

Since Thursday, April 28, three stabbings, including two fatal ones, have occurred in the city of Davis. The search for a suspect or suspects is ongoing as of Tuesday evening.

Though the events have not been definitively linked at this time, the Davis Police Department has said that the suspects in both of the two most recent attacks, which took place on Saturday and Monday nights, bore a resemblance. They have described him as a “light-complected male,” and he is thought to be thin and between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-9. He was last seen shortly after midnight on Tuesday running westbound on 3rd Street from L Street wearing “a black or blue sweatshirt, black Adidas pants with white stripes, black shoes carrying a brown backpack.”

According to Lt. Dan Beckwith, it is too early to tell if these crimes are related.

“I can say that the description is similar to what was provided to us in the most recent homicide, however, it’s still very, very early on,” Beckwith said.

First homicide in Davis since 2019 takes place in Central Park

On Thursday, April 28, around 11:20 a.m., David Henry Breaux, commonly known as the “Compassion Guy,” was found dead on a bench in Central Park with multiple stab wounds. Breaux has stood on the corner of 3rd and C Streets in downtown Davis for many years, well-known for his compassion mission. He began collecting community members’ answers to the question “What is compassion?” in 2009 and released a book called “Compassion Davis, CA: A Compilation of Concepts on Compassion” in early 2010 that contained many of the interpretations he had gathered.

The California Aggie’s arts desk wrote an article about Breaux in 2011, when he hosted a speaking event to talk about his compassion project. Since then, he traveled to 12 other cities around the country to talk to people about their own definitions of compassion and spearheaded the creation of the “Compassion Bench,” a functional art structure in Davis in 2013.

Second fatal stabbing reported in Sycamore Park

On Saturday night around 9:15 p.m., a second fatal stabbing took place at Sycamore Park. According to a statement made to the police, a resident reported hearing a disturbance at the park on Sycamore Lane near Colby Drive. The resident went to investigate and found two men in an altercation, one of whom had multiple stab wounds.

When the resident asked if everything was okay, one of the men stood up and took off on a white bike with straight handlebars. The resident described him as “a light-skinned male, possibly Hispanic, 5’-7” to 5’-8” tall, 19-23 years of age, with long curly loose hair,” wearing a light-colored T-shirt with a button-up shirt over it and a white hat.

The victim of the second fatal stabbing was 20-year-old, fourth-year computer science major Karim Abou Najm. Najm has been described as loving and intelligent by his father, and he enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons with the DRAGON club at UC Davis.

Third stabbing event occurs Monday night

On Monday night, around 11:47 p.m., a third stabbing took place at a homeless encampment on 2nd and L Streets. As of Tuesday night, the female victim is in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times through a tent.

The Davis Police Department and UC Davis issued a shelter-in-place order around 1 a.m. on Tuesday and it remained in place until 5:15 a.m. when police reported they had completed a thorough search of the area.

According to the Davis Enterprise, Isaac Chessman and Christine Berrios, an unhoused couple that resides in the encampment, said that they awoke to the woman yelling for help. The couple said that their friend, Kim, yelled “He’s on me! Help! Get off me! The guy with the curly hair!”

Chessman also reported that believes he saw the suspect about two hours earlier on Monday night and called the police, but received no response.

The search for the suspect is ongoing

As of Tuesday night, one or multiple suspects remain at large. Last night’s search brought in Yolo and Sacramento County sheriff departments as well as drone and K-9 units to conduct yard-to-yard searches in the downtown area. The FBI has also been called in to assist with the investigation.

Though the shelter-in-place order has been lifted, Davis PD spokesperson Jean Lyon said that heavy patrol will continue in the downtown area as the search for the suspect continues.

At a media conference on Tuesday, UC Davis announced that for the foreseeable future, all courses that take place or end after 6 p.m. will be held online, and the school has expanded the “Safe Ride” program to provide earlier rides to off-campus housing. Additionally, it is recommended that all events held after 6 p.m. be moved online or canceled. The UC Davis Police Department has also requested support from the UCSF and UC Berkeley Police Departments, which will take over on-campus patrol while the UC Davis PD assists the city in the search.

Police have warned the community to be vigilant and take precautions at this time. They recommend not traveling at night, and if necessary, doing so in groups. If anyone has information about any of the incidents or has seen anyone matching the suspect description or acting suspiciously, contact Davis PD immediately.

The Davis Police Department can be reached at 530-747-5400 or via email at policeweb@cityofdavis.org. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call at 530-747-5460. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.

Written by: Katie DeBenedetti — city@theaggie.org

City News Editor Chris Ponce and Campus News Editor Sonora Slater contributed to this report.

Davis Police Department holds press conference to discuss recent stabbings

The California Aggie

May 2, 2023

Davis Police Department holds press conference to discuss recent stabbings

Following the third stabbing this week, police discuss ongoing investigation

By CHRIS PONCE — city@theaggie.org

Earlier today, at 11:00 a.m., Davis police, alongside Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, city officials and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office held a press conference to discuss the ongoing investigations into three stabbings, including two fatal ones, that have occurred in the past five days in Davis.

Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel said that police are currently receiving hundreds of tips regarding the crimes. Pytel noted that police have ongoing investigations into each stabbing incident and said that while the description of the suspect is “substantially” similar in the second and third crimes, police are still trying to determine if the crimes are related.

“We’re still trying to determine if the first homicide is related to the second homicide and whether these are related to the stabbing from last night,” Pytel said. “The similarities of the two homicides are that both involved male victims that occurred at Davis parks. The attacks with knives were particularly brutal and violent. These were not stabbings where a person would normally be a victim of like a robbery or something like that, where there’s just a couple of wounds. There were many, and very significant knife wounds. The attack last night had far fewer knife wounds, but still similar in the description provided.”

Police are asking that residents provide any video footage they may have of anyone that matches the description of the suspect. They also said that students and residents of Davis should remain vigilant.

Pytel also said that he’s been in communication with the Yolo County sheriff and police chiefs from neighboring jurisdictions, and all have been offering support since the first homicide. There will continue to be extra police patrols in the Davis area until further notice. There has also been increased federal support, as Pytel shared that while police have been in contact with the FBI for the last few days, they arrived in Davis today. Pytel shared that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has also been assisting with the case, and police have submitted “physical evidence” to the DOJ crime lab — Pytel is expecting to hear about the preliminary evidence today or tomorrow.

The stabbing that occurred last night happened at a homeless encampment near 2nd and L Streets. Pytel said the victim currently remains in critical condition.

Pytel also said that there was an interaction between the suspect last night and several witnesses at the encampment and that many were able to provide descriptions of the suspect. He said that the interaction “happened over a period of time before the stabbing occurred.”

He added that there was drone assistance, but due to weather conditions, it could not be utilized the whole time. Pytel mentioned the concern regarding the lack of air support at the crime last night.

“A helicopter was not airborne and even though we made several requests, there were no helicopters up last night to assist us,” Pytel said.

In response to the ongoing incidents, the police department has moved all patrol forces into 12-hour shifts. Police are working to have a strong and visible presence to support residents for the time being, and UC Davis Police are doing the same to aid the investigation.

Pytel also addressed questions about a curfew in Davis, saying that at this time, residents should use their best judgment when going outside.

“Well, we’ve had three stabbings, two homicides and they’ve occurred over the last couple of days,” Pytel said. “That’s, to my knowledge, never occurred in Davis. […] Be completely aware of your surroundings, to know who may be present or watching. […] People should have a buddy system right now, I think that’s an appropriate and reasonable response. […] People should prioritize their own personal safety.”

Written By: Chris Ponce — city@theaggie.org

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