ELK GROVE, Calif. — Elk Grove police announced Monday that its officers have arrested the person they say is the suspect in a bus stop stabbing that left one man dead Sunday evening.
Elk Grove police say in a news release that surveillance footage shows 31-year-old Aaron Spencer approaching the victim, becoming agitated and then stabbing the victim Sunday night around 6:45 p.m. near a bus stop at the intersection of Sheldon Road and Lewis Stein Road.
The footage has not been released. On Sunday night, police said the two were "involved in a fight."
According to a statement from the EGPD, when officers arrived Sunday evening they found a man on the ground suffering from multiple stab wounds. The man died on the scene, despite life-saving efforts.
Police say the victim, whose name has not been released, was laying down when Spencer first approached. Elk Grove police wouldn't provide more details to ABC10 Monday afternoon.
7-Eleven workers and multiple neighbors say the victim was known in the area.
“A homeless man, a good man. I mean, he didn’t bother nobody... How do they say it? Down on his luck,” said Maurice Davis, a neighbor in the area.
Police say Spencer walked away from the scene before officers arrived in the area but was arrested later when he returned. However, the weapon used in the stabbing hasn't been found, police say.
Police arrested Spencer on suspicion of murder and he is being held at the Sacramento County Main Jail.
Elk Grove Police are asking anyone with additional information about this investigation to call them at (916) 714-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-AACRIME, using the P3 app, or going to P3TIPS.COM.
“Being homeless is literally a life and death issue”
Bob Erlenbusch, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, says 1/3rd of all homeless deaths are violent and the unhoused are 25% more at risk of dying violently compared to people with stable housing.
“Normally, I would say, yes, this should serve as a wake-up call, but it hasn’t,” he said.
Erlenbusch says the city and county must work together to address the crisis. He says crimes committed against the unhoused, and even by the unhoused, can be prevented if the vulnerable population were placed into housing and given mental health services.
“Being homeless is literally a life and death issue,” he said.
Meanwhile, some unhoused persons say they do the best they can to protect themselves.
"I carry a knife. But it’s usually buckled up. I find that the best way to win a fight is to walk away,” said Steve Owens, an unhoused man.
The identity of the victim in the stabbing has not been released at this time.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Man stabbed to death in Elk Grove was involved in a fight, police say