Davis community reflects on lives taken one year after series of stabbings

By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

“I think it’s important that we’re focusing on the victims and what they brought to the community.”

DAVIS, Calif — April 29 marks one year since the passing of a UC Davis student killed during a series of stabbings in Davis. Family and friends plan to honor Karim Abou Najm by unveiling a bench and renaming the path where he died. 

People say they are still in shock because Davis is known for being safe, but the stabbings rocked the entire city.

“I remember I was out at a friend’s house, and everyone got the alert on their phone about the second killing. And everyone was kind of, they didn’t know what to do, panic, if they should stay where they are or go to their apartments,” said Emma Rothberg, a third year UC Davis student. 

Rothberg says she runs on the same path at Sycamore Park on Mondays. It’s the same path where Karim Abou Najm, a UC Davis student, became the second victim of the Davis stabbings on April 29. He was just weeks away from graduating. 

UC Davis and his family created a memorial Change-Makers prize in his honor.

His family and the community are also honoring him with a bench displayed at the same park. 

“I think it’s important that we’re focusing on the victims and what they brought to the community – like, I know that he was doing a bunch of research and stuff – and not just to focus on the bad things that happened but also on the positive on the lives that were lost,” said Rothberg. 

Carlos Dominguez was arrested in connection with the case in May after a third stabbing. It sent Kimberlee Guillory to the hospital. 

David Breaux, also known as the Compassion Guy, was the first victim. 

People who walk the path where Abou Najm was killed say they’re hopeful Davis can return to normal now that Dominguez is in custody. 

“It’s a pretty safe town. I feel pretty safe walking here. Like I said, it was just a bizarre time at that moment, a series of it by one person. So hopefully, things like that will not happen again, and we’ll be back on track,” said Mona Buksh, who works in Davis and walks the path Abou Najm would take. 

Monday’s remembrance day started at Willett Elementary School at 5:30 p.m. The memorial bench will be uncovered and the path renamed at 7 p.m.

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About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.

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