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Contact:  Officer Joe Okies  #71

                 BPD Public Information Officer

                 (510) 981- 5752  

Suspect in Knife Attack Identified and Arrested

Berkeley, California (Friday March 18, 2005) – On Wednesday, March 16, a 75-year-old woman had her throat slashed as she was walking with her husband near the Berkeley Rose Gardens located on the 1200 block of Euclid.  Based on tips from the public and the hard work of Berkeley Police Department’s Homicide Detail, investigators have identified and arrested the suspect in this case.

The person responsible for the stabbing is described as a 16-year-old female Oakland resident.  We are unable to identify the suspect any further based on the fact that she is a juvenile.  The motive in this case is unclear at this time. The suspect was booked on charges of attempted homicide. 

The car and the person described as the second suspect associated with this case have both been identified.  Based on the direction of the investigation, detectives are not planning to arrest this person. 

Sgt. Nonoguchi of Berkeley Police Department’s Homicide Detail said, “ I am satisfied that this investigation came to such a quick resolution before the suspect could hurt anyone else.”

The victim continues to recover from her injuries and is expected to survive.