Woman and her dog stabbed and killed in park, witness takes killer out using rock

One person stabbed a woman and a dog, killing both, in a California park, and was stopped when a bystander hit him with a rock. 

Ricardo Saldivar, 23 years old, used a knife in the deadly attack last Thursday a San Dimas, California, park that killed 66-year-old Jeanne Edgar and her 10-year-old bichon breed named Sachi,  according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 

In all, Saldivar was charged with murder, attempted murder, animal cruelty, second-degree robbery and criminal threats charges, police said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department statednthe initial target was Joe Cohen, who parked his truck and was walking through the park to use a public bathroom. That is when he saw a man walking towards him holding a knife, police said.

Cohen ran back to his vehicle as the man was chasing him, authorities said. However, the suspect's attention shifted to the woman walking her dog, police said.

At that point, Saldivar grabbed the dog’s leash from Edgar’s grasp and stabbed the dog, authorities said. Saldivar then attacked Edgar.

Cohen got out of his vehicle and hit Saldivar in the head with a rock as he was stabbing the woman, authorities said. The rock knocked out Saldivar.

That gave police enough time to arrive and arrest Saldivar. Authorities said he was treated for head injuries at a local hospital before being booked into jail.

For the charges, the attempted murder and criminal threats charges against Saldivar are from his actions against Cohen, police said. The robbery charge is related to Saldivar grabbing the dog from Edgar, authorities said.

Police said there is no clear motive for these crimes. Saldivar is currently in jail and being held on a $2 million bond.