Homeless man held on $2M bail following deadly stabbing at Maywood convenience store

MAYWOOD, Calif. - A homeless man was charged with murder and attempted murder following the deadly stabbing of a convenience store clerk in what was described as a "horrific scene" in Maywood, officials said.

The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Kevin C. Gomez.

The stabbing occurred around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday at an ARCO ampm in the 7400 block of Slauson Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

A spokesman for the sheriff's office said that two female clerks, a patron, and a worker who was stocking beverages were in the store when a transient entered drinking Gatorade. Shortly after entering the store, one of the female clerks said something to him. 

That's when Gomez jumped over the counter and stabbed the clerk multiple times, the sheriff's office said.

The preliminary investigation revealed he also punched her.

Gomez also attempted to stab the other clerk when the two men tackled the homeless man to the ground. That’s when a local business reported a “fight in progress” to authorities.

Arriving deputies discovered the suspect fighting with the two other men in the store and detained the suspect and escorted him out of the store.

The deputies were then directed to the victim who was lying on the floor behind the front counter. She suffered multiple stab wounds and was unresponsive, authorities said.

She was taken to a local hospital where she died from her injuries, officials said. 

The other clerk sustained abrasions and is expected to be ok.

Authorities are canvassing surveillance footage but are not releasing it to the public, citing that the suspect is behind bars and that the footage is extremely graphic and upsetting to look at.

Authorities said the victim is a 32-year-old woman.

Her name has not been released.

Gomez was taken to the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station and is being held on a $2 million bail.