Paroled knifeman launches 30-minute stabbing spree in Oakland, killing one
Police say Jose Jesus Rodriguez, a homeless parolee with a history of knife attacks, carried out a half-hour stabbing rampage in East Oakland that left one person dead and four injured.
Oakland authorities have charged Jose Jesus Rodriguez, a 34-year-old homeless man on parole, with a 30-minute stabbing spree that killed one person and wounded four across several East Oakland locations on Monday. Video shows Rodriguez, wearing a white tank top, approaching his first victim in Cesar Chavez Park and repeatedly stabbing her before moving on to other sites, including near the Fruitvale BART station. Court records reveal he previously stabbed an Uber driver and a garbage collector in 2019, resulting in a prison term and parole release in 2023.
After his release he incurred numerous parole violations, attempted to bite a police officer’s ear, and swung a wooden board at two individuals, prompting a parole agent to label him a “significant threat” with no suitable programs to address his behavior. He now faces murder and assault charges and remains detained without bail at Santa Rita Jail. Community members reported feeling scared and urged stronger mental-health support in Oakland.
Why it matters
The case highlights gaps in parole supervision and mental-health services for violent offenders.
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