Man whose mother police say was stabbed 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. The San Rafael Police Department received a call shortly before 1 a.m. reporting that a family member had been stabbed by their mother in an apartment in the unit block of Fairfax Street. The police arrived on 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 yelled at officers when they arrived, police said. Deleon-Diaz did not follow instructions and verbal commands and indicated he was still in possession of a knife, police said.

Witnesses told police the victim was still inside and had been seriously stabbed.

Officers continued to attempt de-escalation techniques with the suspect while providing instructions and commands. Deleon-Diaz, police say, implied he would not comply. The officers began to approach him slowly, hoping he would obey.

But as they approached, the suspect grabbed the front of his waistband, where he told police he had the knife. At that point, officers fired a non-lethal 40-millimeter sponge bullet at Deleon-Diaz. He was hit by the ordinance and fell to the ground. The police were then able to arrest him without incident.

Upon arriving at the apartment, officers began providing life-saving first aid to the victim. Emergency services arrived and transported the victim to hospital, his life being in danger. The victim is expected to survive and is in stable condition, police said.

During the investigation, officers determined 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 that point, other family members intervened and called the police.

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

• attempted homicide
• mayhem
• 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.