Officers responded to a call regarding an assault with a deadly weapon near 16th Street and Pecan Avenue around 11 p.m. Thursday, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.
Authorities say that's when they found "several victims with significant injuries."
The Huntington Beach Fire Department said they found five people with apparent stab wounds, but police would not comment on the type of weapon that was used.
Some neighbors told Eyewitness News they saw a man get out of a car and start attacking a group of people.
Two people died at the scene and three others were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The victims have not been identified.
"As to the nature of how this happened, the events leading up to it, what transpired during, that's all part of the investigation and we hope to have more details further on," said Jennifer Carey, spokesperson for the city.
The suspect in custody has been identified as Logan Christopher Kelley, 26. He was booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Detectives are now looking into whether that individual had any connection to the victims.
"Obviously, anytime something like this happens, it is a scary situation, but what I can say is our detectives are taking it very seriously and doing everything they possibly can to find out what happened," Carey added.
Police said there was no reason to believe there was any further threat to public safety related to the incident.