After a 35-year-old father of two was randomly stabbed to death, investigators released surveillance video Tuesday in the hope of identifying the attacker who calmly walked away and left the victim to die on a sidewalk.
The stabbing occurred the night of Dec. 20 in the Jefferson Park area west of downtown Los Angeles.
The victim, identified as William Jennings, is seen in the video walking from his residence toward a market before he encounters his attacker in the 3300 block of West Jefferson Boulevard (map) near 12th Avenue. The two men appear to talk with each other before the attacker repeatedly stabs Jennings with a knife.
The family's Christmas Eve was spent mourning the loss of the husband and father. Friends and family gathered for a vigil in the neighborhood.
"I hope they catch the person and that he pays the consequences for what he did," Jennings' father told NBC4. "But I'm not mad at him, I feel sorry for him, and I'm sure he is in a bad state of mind."
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Jennings was slashed in the head and stabbed in the torso, according to investigators. He died at the scene.
The victim is survived by his wife, 11-year-old daughter and a stepson. Jennings recently returned home from his wife's office Christmas party when he was killed, his wife said.
"He just walked to the store and never came home," said Tymesha Jennings, pictured at right with her husband on their wedding day.
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Tymesha Jennings said Christmas was her husband's favorite holiday and he never had a chance to decorate the tree with his family this year.
Jennings pleaded for whoever killed her husband to "just walk (into a police station) and turn yourself in."
A detailed description of the attacker is not available. The attacker appeared to walk calmly away from the scene of the violent stabbing.
"Clearly, this is an unprovoked attack," said Lt. Jeff Nolte, of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Anyone with information in the case is urged to call 213-485-4341.
