Man Suspected in 5 Homeless Stabbings

Courtney Anthony Robinson was detained in connection with three stabbings of homeless people in the LA area

A man who police detained in connection with a series of stabbings of homeless people called 911 and turned himself in to authorities, officials said on Saturday.

Courtney Anthony Robinson made a 911 call to police on Friday just before 9 p.m. from outside a Chinese food restaurant in Hollywood, Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Andy Smith said.

After getting the call, police went to a Hong Kong Express restaurant on West Sunset Boulevard and North Highland Avenue and recognized the suspect from a flyer.

Robinson -- who also goes by David Ben Keyes -- was booked into custody on attempted murder charges in connection with three stabbings in July in Santa Monica, Hollywood and downtown LA.

Police are also investigating Robinson in connection with two other stabbings in Santa Barbara, where the suspect is believed to have been.

Police aren't talking about a motive, but they say he left type-written notes with each of his victims. The victims were all asleep at the time they were attacked. The stabber left the knife in each victim's body.

All survived, but one victim remains hospitalized.

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The first attack occurred on July 3 at 1 a.m., near Third and Main streets in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. A 50-year-old man was stabbed in the back as he lay on the sidewalk. A witness described the suspect as a slender black male.

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The second attack occurred Tuesday at dawn when a 59-year-old man was stabbed in the back while he lay on a bus bench near Sixth Street and Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica.

The most recent assault occurred Thursday at 2:20 a.m. near La Brea and DeLongpre avenues in Hollywood. A woman was stabbed in the back as she lay on the sidewalk.

In the wake of the attacks, police urged transients to seek shelter.

Homeless people who spoke with NBC4 on Saturday said they were relieved the suspect had been arrested.

"I sure am glad he's locked up and that it's over with," Ray Brooks said. "If you go around stabbing someone you don't belong out here."

Police weren't saying much about Robinson, 37, but they confirmed he has a Facebook page under his alias, David Ben Keyes.

On his page he appears to have recorded a song called "Only The Strong Will Survive," which talks about the recession, making news headlines and a life too hard to define.

"It's been a difficult couple years for Mr. Robinson," Smith said. "It looks like he's had a rough time from the first time the photos were taken to the most recent booking photo."

He was in custody at the LAPD's Jail Division, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Inmate Information website.

The website also showed that a man with the same name, birthdate and physical description was arrested and released by LAPD's Hollywood Division on a misdeameanor charge on May 9.

NBC4's Michelle Valles and Melissa Pamer contributed to this report.

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