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Man Arrested in Random Stabbings in Chula Vista

Gerardo Bejar, 45, is suspected of running up to victims and stabbing them in the back

Chula Vista Police in Southern California say they have arrested a suspect who ran out of his idling car and randomly stabbed strangers on three separate occasions. 

Gerardo Bejar, 45, was taken into custody during a traffic stop Tuesday, accused of three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Saul Mass, one of the victims, told NBC 7 he is still healing physically and mentally from the unprovoked attack.

On Nov. 23 at about 7:30 a.m., Mass was walking his dog behind the Target store on Broadway when a man in a gray Mustang jumped out of his car and thrust a knife into Mass' back. The stabbing was caught on store surveillance cameras.

"I can't do nothing now," the victim said, showing NBC 7 the bandages on his shoulder blade. "I fear he is going to come back. He did want to hurt me more." 

Mass said the suspect asked him for cigarette rolling papers as a diversion to get close to him. The man chased him, but Mass said he managed to escape.

"Who knows what he believes when he do that," Mass told NBC 7. "He does it with such confidence."

The most recent stabbing happened Tuesday at 12:04 p.m. on the 300 Block of K Street. Police said a man stopped his car in the middle of the street, ran to a man walking the opposite direction and drove a knife into his back.

The suspect then ran back to his car and drove off. 

"It's relatively random," said Chula Vista Police Lt. Fritz Reber. "There appears to be no rhyme or reason to it. The victims don't know the suspect, never seen him before."

The first incident happened on Nov. 17 at approximately 4 p.m. on the 1600 block of Industrial when a woman in a wheelchair said she was stabbed in the back. The woman told witnesses a man driving a Mustang had approached her and gotten out to stab her "for no reason."

All three victims suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Anyone with information may call the police at (619) 691-5151, or (619) 422-TIPS to remain anonymous. You can also visit the police's website by clicking here or contact the San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

No further information was immediately available. 

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