Stabbing Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder

CANTON, GA — A California man faces more than two dozen charges, including attempted murder, related to an assault reported early Saturday at a home in Canton.

Deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a call of a stabbing just after midnight Dec. 22 at a home on Bethany Manor Drive. They arrived to find three men living at the home suffering from stab wounds.

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Eric Cruz of Vista, California, was taken into custody. The three stabbing victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

"It appears the suspect was in a relationship with one of the victims and got into an argument which led to the stabbing," said Cherokee Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jay Baker.

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Cruz is charged with 26 counts of aggravated assault, criminal attempt to commit murder and four counts of aggravated battery. He remains held without bond at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

Two victims still remain at the hospital. One man, a 25-year-old Canton resident, suffered life-threatening stabbing injuries, and remains at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. Another victim, a 31-year-old Canton man, received serious injuries and is still hospitalized at WellStar. The final victim, a 25-year-old Canton resident, received minor injuries, and was treated and released from Northside Hospital Cherokee.

Photo: Eric Cruz. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office