Four people were killed and two others injured Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, in a series of robberies and stabbings that started in Garden Grove and ended in Santa Ana.

A 33-year-old man was arrested at a 7-Eleven in Santa Ana, one of eight crime scenes in the two-hour spree that straddled the two cities. His name was not released, but police say he has a criminal history.

“These are all random acts of violence,” said Garden Grove Police Lt. Carl Whitney. The suspect had no personal connection to the victims.

It was one of the worst sprees of violence in recent Orange County history, though not the deadliest. In 2011, Scott Dekraai killed eight people at a Seal Beach salon.

A suspect has been taken into custody in relation to a series of stabbings in Garden Grove and Santa Ana where four people have been killed and two injured on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Photo by OnSceneTV)

A knife can be seen in the parking lot at the 100 Block S. Harbor Blvd in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Photo by OnSceneTV)

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Two people were stabbed inside the residence at the 12000 block of Jentges Avenue in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Photo by OnSceneTV)

Paramedics treat a man who was stabbed at a Chevron gas station in Garden Grove. He suffered lacerations to his face on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 (Photo by OnScene.TV)

A suspect has been taken into custody in relation to a series of stabbings in Garden Grove and Santa Ana where four people have been killed and two injured on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Photo by OnSceneTV)



Onlookers watch as police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police escort witnesses from a murder scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Paramedics treat a man who was stabbed at a Chevron gas station in Garden Grove. He suffered lacerations to his face on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Photo by OnScene.TV)

Police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A police detective talks with friends of one of the victims at a murder scene in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Witnesses wait for their cars to be released a crime scene at a Chevron gas station in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A detective talks to a reporter at a crime scene at the Casa de Portola Apartments in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a crime scene at the Casa de Portola Apartments in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Police work a scene at a Chevron gas station in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A woman talks to reporters at a crime scene at the Casa de Portola Apartments in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Police work a crime scene at a Chevron gas station in Garden Grove on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A man went on a stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana that resulted in four people dead. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The suspect was arrested near a 7-Eleven on Harbor Boulevard and 1st Street in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Photo at OnSceneTV)

The four killed are all men, according to police, and two other people were hospitalized after what authorities described as violent robberies. The victims’ names have not been released.

See also: ‘The guy unleashed evil:’ Garden Grove police identify suspected killer, describe stabbing spree attacks

The first call came around 4:09 p.m., when officers responded to a burglary at an apartment complex on the 12000 block of Jentges Avenue, Whitney said. Two residents came home to find their apartment ransacked.

As police were investigating there, a call about a robbery at a bakery at 13040 Chapman Ave. came in. A silver Mercedes was spotted at that business; investigators believe the car was driven by the man who had broken into the apartment earlier.

The police returned to the apartment complex after reports came in just after 5 p.m. of two men who had been stabbed, Whitney said. One man was pronounced dead on the balcony of the apartment. The second was found inside and taken to UCI Medical Center, but also died.

The complex has about 40 units, residents said, mainly one- and two-bedroom apartments housing families.

Authorities then were notified of another robbery at a nearby check-cashing business at 12845 Chapman Ave. Police said the suspect went on to rob an insurance business, where a woman, 53, who was working inside was seriously injured.

“This guy was armed with knives,” Whitney said. “She fought as best she could.”

Another attack took place at a Chevron gas station near Harbor Boulevard and Banner Drive. A man pumping gas there had his nose nearly severed from his face, Whitney said.

Louis Chavez, 24, who was putting air in his tire at the gas station said he saw a man in a black hoodie walk up to the man pumping gas and, without a word, started hitting him. Chavez said the man slashed the other man’s face and stabbed him at least once in the shoulder.

Chavez said the assailant then returned to his car and continued to pump gas before seeming to realize the other customers had taken note of him. Chavez said he got in his car and sped away as other customers went to the aid of the injured man.

Both the employee wounded at the insurance business and the motorist injured at the gas station were taken to UCI Medical Center and are expected to survive, Whitney said.

Another stabbing occurred at a Subway restaurant near Harbor and 1st Street in Santa Ana. A customer at the eatery was killed, police said.

It was about 6:15 p.m., when plainclothes Garden Grove officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle at a 7-Eleven in that area, and called for back-up from Santa Ana police.

The suspect, who was armed with a knife and a handgun, emerged from the store about a minute later and was taken into custody, Whitney said.

A security guard at the convenience store was fatally stabbed, his gun had also been stolen, according to police.

Garden Grove and Santa Ana police were working into the night to collect evidence and talk with witnesses.

“We’ll be out here for hours,” Whitney said. “We’ll be out here through the night gathering evidence.”

Videos and other evidence was also being provided from witnesses.

“A lot of citizens came forward and rendered aid to the guy with his nose that was nearly severed,” Whitney said. “They were willing to come forward and help the Police Department, give us information that was crucial in getting this guy identified … The public really stepped up to help this guy.”

Whitney said in his 33 years in the department he has not seen such a spree.

“You see this once in a career,” he said.

City News Service contributed to this report.