Suspect In Halloween Night Stabbing In Murrieta Arrested After 'Extensive Manhunt'

MURRIETA, CA — After a week of what police called "an extensive manhunt," Murrieta police arrested a San Bernardino man suspected of stabbing another on Halloween night, officials said. On Friday, police released the identity of a San Bernardino County resident suspected of the crime.

Matthew John McMahon, 35, of Yermo, was arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. McMahon is being held at the Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail on pending charges of felony attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Murrieta Police Department Capt. Jeremy Durrant shared the details of the incident that left witnesses scattering and a community in shock.

"The suspect had been the subject of a manhunt since Oct. 31, when he allegedly attacked a man at the intersection of Margarita and Torrey Pines roads," Durrant said.

On Halloween, just before 11 p.m., there was an unspecified confrontation between McMahon and the unidentified victim.

Durrant said that the suspect allegedly inflicted "multiple stab wounds ... before fleeing the scene."
Several witnesses called 911, and patrol officers and Murrieta Fire & Rescue paramedics reached the location within minutes.

"Despite an exhaustive search, the suspect was not located," the captain said. "The victim was taken to a regional trauma center for treatment and was still in recovery Friday."

There was no word on his current condition or prognosis.

Detectives ran down an exhaustive list of leads that pointed to McMahon as the alleged assailant. On Thursday afternoon, he was apprehended without incident on East Williams Street in Yermo.

Background information on the suspect was unavailable.