DAVIS, Calif. — Carlos Dominguez pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in a series of Davis stabbings that left two people dead and another injured.
Dominguez pleaded not guilty on Oct. 17, according to the Yolo County District Attorney's Office. The next hearing is set for Oct. 24 where doctors will be appointed to determine if he is legally insane and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Prior to the plea, the earliest trial the trial could be was in April 2025.
He was previously deemed unfit for trial in August 2023 and taken to a state hospital in the hopes of having his competency restored. The court later received a report in December 2023 saying he was now mentally competent to stand trial.
Prosecutors announced in February 2024 they wouldn’t be seeking the death penalty and Dominguez pleaded not guilty at a March 2024 arraignment.
CASE HISTORY
The three stabbings began near the University of California, Davis roughly two days after Dominguez was expelled for academic reasons on April 25, 2023, ABC10 previously reported. He was a third-year student majoring in biological sciences.
- Stabbing and killing David Breaux, 50, who was found stabbed to death in Davis’ Central Park on April 27, 2023. He was known throughout the community as “Compassion Guy.”
- Stabbing and killing UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm, 20, in Davis’ Sycamore Park on April 29, 2023.
- Stabbing Kimberlee Guillory at a homeless encampment near 2nd and L streets on May 1, 2023. She survived.
The attacks terrified the community. Businesses closed early and some students were too scared to attend even daytime classes as their parents pleaded with them to return home.
On May 4, 2023, the Davis Police Department announced the arrest of Dominguez, ABC10 previously reported. He faces charges including murder and attempted murder.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Evidence shows probable cause that Carlos Dominguez committed Davis stabbings, judge says
