GGPD working multiple scenes with several homicides. Multiple robberies and stabbings by suspect. Suspect in custody by #GGPD at Harbor and First in Santa Ana. PIO at Puryear and Chapman in GG. #GGPD32 #homicide pic.twitter.com/62Xq8lm97n

GARDEN GROVE, CA — A bloody murder spree unfolded in Garden Grove Wednesday night, leaving four dead and two others suffering from stab wounds, according to police. Garden Grove Police arrested a 33-year-old Garden Grove man suspected of stabbing several people in less than two hours at multiple businesses along Harbor Boulevard just blocks from Disneyland.

Zachary Castaneda, the suspect, acted out of "pure hate," Garden Grove Police Lt. Carl Whitney told KTLA. "We know this guy was full of anger, and he harmed a lot of people" Wednesday night. Investigators continue researching a motive for the attacks. Garden Grove police Chief Tom DaRe described Castaneda as a "documented gang member" who should have been in prison for prior convictions but was made eligible for release under the AB109 inmate-realignment legislation.

"California law enforcement agencies have been crippled by AB109, and offenders are not being held accountable for their crimes," DaRe said. "Our community becomes vulnerable when these criminals are released back into our society." Several stabbings occurred as police were responding to the previous attack mere blocks away. The suspect was taken into custody by a plain clothes officer as he emerged from a 7-Eleven where he had just stabbed and killed the security guard, stealing his gun, according to police.

Detectives believe the attacks were largely random with motive being robbery. The frenetic pace of robberies and attacks in the area had police chasing a confusing trail of blood, near-misses and seemingly unrelated crimes. #BREAKING: At least 4 dead and 2 injured in a series of stabbings in Garden Grove. The crimes scenes are at several different locations. One person was seen in handcuffs but it's unconfirmed right now if he's the suspect. We have crews at the scene gathering information. #CBSLA pic.twitter.com/RTFcvx9ATq

— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersTV) August 8, 2019 The first stabbings were reported just after 5 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 12100 block of Jentges Avenue in Garden Grove, according Whitney. The stabbings came about an hour after a burglary had been reported at the apartment.

"We believe our two victims in the apartment somehow confronted the suspect and an altercation occurred," Whitney said. "We've learned, so far, that our suspect does reside here in the same apartment complex."



Two male victims were found, one on the balcony of an apartment and the other inside. The victim inside was pronounced dead at the scene and the one on the balcony was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he too was pronounced dead, Whitney said.

That first set of stabbings occurred as police investigated an armed robbery at a bakery in the 13000 block of Chapman Avenue just a couple blocks away, the lieutenant said. No one was injured in the bakery robbery, which was reported about 4:25 p.m. and involved a male suspect possibly armed with a knife and a handgun, Whitney said.