IONE, CA – A stabbing spree in the Amador County community of Ione on Monday morning has left one person dead and two others injured. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Joseph Stephens Jenkins, is in custody. Jenkins, a transient, had recently been released from state prison on parole for murder, according to Ione Police Chief John Alfred.
The incident unfolded when Ione police officers responded to a stabbing on Violet Lane at around 8:44 a.m. The suspect was then spotted fleeing toward Shakeley Lane, where two more individuals were stabbed. Law enforcement apprehended Jenkins along Shakeley Lane and recovered a knife at the scene of his arrest.
One Ione resident succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while the two other victims, including a PG&E worker, were hospitalized. Fortunately, the survivors are currently in stable condition. Residents of the area expressed their shock and concern, describing the incident as unnerving. Neighbor Nattilee Jackson remarked, “It’s just a wake-up call that it can happen in your own backyard.”
Ione police believe that this act of violence appears to be random. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have not confirmed whether the stabbings occurred during attempted robberies or home invasions. Local reports indicate that the suspect may have been breaking into homes and monitoring the street over the past few days.
Chief Alfred could not confirm details about prior incidents involving Jenkins but indicated that further information would be provided during a news conference scheduled for noon on Tuesday. Ione is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Sacramento.