A man was arrested for allegedly running over and fatally stabbing him on a highway in southern California, authorities said.
The suspect identified as Vanroy Evan Smith, 39, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder in the Dana Point attack and was charged Friday with murder in the death of the bicyclist.
“When officers arrived, Smith was being stopped by bystanders” before being arrested by police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.
The victim, Michael John Mammone, 58, was in a bike lane on Pacific Coast Highway around 3 p.m. when a Lexus sedan rear-ended him at an intersection, according to the department. of the sheriff
“An innocent man is dead because he took a bike ride to enjoy a beautiful California day along the beach and was struck by a car and stabbed to death by someone he apparently never knew,” said the district attorney of the Orange County, Todd Spitzer. “The murder of a complete stranger in broad daylight for what seems to be no reason is the stuff of nightmares.”
Mammone was a local doctor in the emergency room at Providence Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, CBS Los Angeles revealed.
The collision with his bike “knocked him into the intersection,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Woodroof. “At that point, the suspect drove around the victim, got out of his vehicle, returned to the victim, and continued to assault her.”
Smith stabbed the doctor, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to the Sheriff’s Department statement.
The suspect was taken into custody and a knife was seized from him, according to officials. Witnesses said the driver was also holding a BB gun when he approached Mammone, who was on the asphalt in critical condition, the outlet reported.
It appears Smith had no known connection to the victim and detectives are continuing to investigate to determine a motive for the homicide, officers said.
“As to the relationship or the motive, we have no idea at this time,” Woodruff said.
Smith has a pre-hearing scheduled for February 16 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
The subject could face up to 25 years in prison to life in prison if convicted at trial.
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