LONG BEACH

6 People Stabbed in Long Beach; Suspect Shot, Killed by Police

"We just heard, 'help me please!' So I rushed out," said Tomika Phillips, a witness at the scene.

Three women in a convalescent home and three other victims at an apartment complex, including the suspect's wife, were injured in a violent stabbing rampage Friday in Long Beach, police said. 

The suspect, identified by police as Derrick Lee Hunt , 28, of Long Beach, was shot and killed by police after the attack. Earlier, family identified him as Derrick Leake.

When officers arrived at the 3200 block of East Artesia Boulevard, near Obispo Avenue shortly after 8 p.m., people were frantically waving police and pointing in the direction where the suspect was located, according to Long Beach Police.

A preliminary police investigation showed the stabbings began at an apartment complex, where witnesses said Hunt continously tried to stab his 29-year-old wife.

"We just heard, 'help me please!' So I rushed out," said Tomika Phillips, a witness at the scene.   "That's when we both saw her bloody from head to toe."

Hunt later turned his agression on others, stabbing his wife's brother and another neighbor who came out to help, witnesses said.

According to police, Hunt crossed the street and entered a convalescent home where he allegedly stabbed three nurses, all women.

Police encountered the suspect shortly after and opened fire, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members of the suspected attacker arrived at the scene after learning he'd been killed.

Hunt's sister, Shawntris Leake, said he had been released from jail less than two weeks ago for a non-violent crime and said they had spent time together earlier in the day. 

"It was completely out of character for my brother to physically attack," Leake said. "My brother avoided physical verbal confrontation as much as possible."

Five of the six people wounded in the attack were taken to trauma hospitals with minor to critical injuries. One person was treated at the scene with superficial injuries.

No details were released on what led officers to shoot the man.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate.

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