Transgender women stabbings: Man charged with attempted murder in separate attacks in MacArthur Park
WESTLAKE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the attempted murder of two transgender women in separate attacks in the Westlake District's MacArthur Park, prosecutors announced.
The defendant allegedly tried to kill one of the victims twice.
Donoban Fonseca is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on three counts each of attempted murder, conspiracy to dissuade a witness, attempting to dissuade a witness, and two counts of extortion, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said in a statement.
One of the victims was identified by friends as Daniela Hernandez, who was stabbed multiple times and had her throat slashed in an attack that occurred about 9 p.m. on Oct. 11.
"She's a very kind individual who is always doing good for people and just for her to be attacked in this way is not fair," Bamby Salcedo, president of TransLatin@ Coalition, said at a vigil for Hernandez. Salcedo said Hernandez was stabbed 16 times.
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The other victim was attacked in the same park on Aug. 21 and Sept. 1, authorities said. Neither victim has been publicly identified by authorities.
The charges against Fonseca include allegations that the incidents were hate crimes and were committed for the benefit of a gang. He was being held on $1.07 million bail after being taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department.
If convicted as charged, Fonseca faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, according to the DA's office.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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