Suspect Arrested After Woman, 65, Stabbed To Death In Random Attack At City Heights Park

By Debbie L. Sklar, Times of San Diego:

Police arrested a 23-year-old man hours after a 65-year-old City Heights woman was stabbed to death in an apparently random assault near her home on Monday.

The victim was exercising at Central Avenue Mini Park when she was attacked shortly before 8:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Police Department.

The victim, whose name was withheld pending family notification, died at the scene of the assault.

Police arrested Siliveinusi Patafalai at his residence in the 3000 block of 39th Street around 5:20 p.m. He was booked on suspicion of murder at the San Diego County Jail.

It was unclear what motivated the deadly violence, which apparently erupted without provocation or warning, according to police.

“There is no indication there was an altercation before the (woman) was attacked or that she was targeted for a specific reason,” SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski said.

Anyone with additional information about this stabbing was asked to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Updated at 9:30 p.m. June 19, 2023

City News Service contributed to this article.

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