The stabbing attack in Orange County that left four people dead and two hurt evolved over two hours at several locations in Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

Police said they were stunned by the cycle of events, which began at an apartment building in Garden Grove and then spread to businesses. Authorities are still searching for a motive and said the attacks seem to be random.

“This is one of those things you see one time in a career ... I’ve been a police officer for 30 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen a suspect kill four people and stab others,” Garden Grove Police Lt. Carl Whitney said. “It’s pure evil.”

Here is a timeline of how the attacks unfolded:

4:09 p.m. Burglary reported at an apartment in the 12600 block of Jentges Avenue in Garden Grove.

4:23 p.m. Robbery reported at a bakery in the 13000 block of Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove. The suspect, armed with a gun, took cash.

5:04 p.m. Stabbing reported at the apartment complex on Jentges Avenue where burglary was reported earlier. Two adult males, one 62, died from multiple stab wounds. The age of the other victims was unavailable.

5:39 p.m. Armed robbery reported at Cash & More check-cashing business in the 12800 block of Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove. The suspect took cash.

6:06 p.m. Armed robbery and stabbing reported at Best One Insurance agency in the 12800 block of Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove. A 54-year-old female employee was stabbed numerous times and was in critical but stable condition. The suspect took cash.

6:09 p.m. Stabbing reported at a Chevron gas station in the 13300 block of Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove. A 44-year-old male was stabbed and his nose was nearly cut off. He is in stable condition.

6:16 p.m. A male was stabbed and killed in a Subway restaurant in the 3800 block of West First Street in Santa Ana.

6:25 p.m. A male security guard was fatally stabbed at a 7-Eleven store in the 100 block of South Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana. The suspect, who took the victim’s handgun after stabbing him numerous times, was taken into custody by police.