Arrest made in 4 stabbings over the weekend, 2 resulting in death on Denver’s 16th Street Mall

DENVER — A man has been arrested in connection to four apparent random attacks along 16th Street in downtown Denver from over the weekend.

On Saturday, three individuals were stabbed in separate incidents that occurred within eight blocks of each other along the 16th Street Mall, resulting in one fatality from the injuries sustained.

The following day, another person fell victim to a stabbing near the intersection of 16th Street and Market Street, which is in close proximity to Union Station; this victim also succumbed to their injuries after being transported to the hospital.

Authorities in Denver made a connection between all four attacks, attributing them to the same perpetrator, as detailed in a social media update posted by the Denver police on Sunday evening. The suspect, identified as an adult male, was apprehended and taken into custody.

The suspect’s identity is expected to be released Monday morning, once he’s booked.

The first stabbing on Saturday occurred near Tremont Street around 5:12 p.m.

The male victim in the first incident transported himself to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and has since been discharged, according to police.

During a press conference on Sunday evening, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said the first victim was “slashed in the face.”

Moments later around 5:17 p.m., police said the suspect attacked a second victim, stabbing a Hispanic woman near California Street on the Mall. Her identity has not been released by police.

She was taken to the hospital where several medical procedures were performed, but ultimately she died early Sunday morning.

Chief Thomas said the first 911 call came in at 5:20 p.m., and officers were on the scene three minutes later.

Robert Garrison/Denver7

According to police, the suspect stabbed a third victim at 16th and Lawrence Street around 5:54 p.m.

The male victim in the third incident was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive his serious injuries to the arm and torso.

Investigators have connected all four of the stabbings to one suspect.

Police said in a news release from before the fourth stabbing on Sunday that there appears to be no connection between the suspect and the victims, and the motive is unclear.

“There’s someone out there who is indiscriminately stabbing people and causing significant harm,” said Chief Thomas during a press conference before the fourth stabbing and subsequent arrest. “We recognize the concern that causes for the community, we are doing all that we can to locate that individual and bring them to justice, and I want to assure people that there are significant resources in the downtown area to prevent something like this from happening again.”

Denver police released video of the suspect Sunday evening.

Watch it in the video player below:

Video of 16th Street Mall stabbing suspect

Chief Thomas said investigators had not yet recovered the weapon used, as of Sunday evening — before the fourth incident near 16th and Market Street.

“We have a number of resources that are currently in the downtown area looking for this individual, and that includes our District Six officers, our mall unit officers, several other proactive units. We have some plain clothes assets that are in the area as well,” said Chief Thomas. “These appear to be unprovoked attacks. Two males and a female were attacked. They were alone. And so we do have significant concern for the community, which is why we’re putting such effort into locating this individual.”

Denver Police have a dedicated motorcycle team that patrols the mall area, along with other assets on bicycle and foot, Chief Thomas said.

“We understand that there is a challenge right now in the 16th Street Mall with construction and things like that, but we do the best that we can, again with resources on bicycle and on foot,” said Chief Thomas.

Still, Steve Crain who has lived along 16th Street Mall for the last eight years, believes there should be more of a visible police presence along the mall at all times.

“The disappointing part is, though, that multiple people had to be stabbed before there’s any recognition of danger down here,” Crain said. “Change around how they [police] do what they do so that the people down here are not only safer, but the people that they want to attract down here feel safe enough to come down.”

The investigation is ongoing.

The Denver Police Department has additional officers at the mall for added security presence, the department said.

While police have not confirmed the identity of any victims, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants reports that Phoenix-based Flight Attendant Celinda Levno died while on a layover in Denver during a “senseless tragedy” over the weekend.

A close friend of Levno’s, Josephine Dale, told Denver7, she was stabbed along a walking mall in Denver at roughly 5:30 p.m. Dale continued to say Levno was rushed to the hospital where she died early Sunday morning after surgery.

Dale provided Denver7 with a statement, saying loved ones are “beyond heartbroken about the loss of our beloved Celinda Anne. She was truly the most incredible and kind woman out there. Everything she did was for everyone else. A true animal lover, and a phenomenal musician. Overall, just an amazing woman. This is a devastating loss to everyone who knew her. She will now be with us every stride and her love for horses will be carried on through all of us.”

Denver police seek man accused of stabbing 3, killing 1 on 16th Street Mall in apparent random attacks