Fullerton

SoCal Man Convicted of Slashing, Stabbing Moviegoers During Horror Film

Steven Walter Robinson Jr. posted online about killing and mass murder and used the screen name "psychokiller666," prosecutors said

A man who prosecutors say was fascinated with serial killers was found guilty Wednesday of slashing and stabbing two strangers as they watched a horror flick at a Southern California movie theater.

Steven Walter Robinson Jr., 30, of Anaheim was convicted at his retrial on two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation for the bloody attack on the two men at an AMC theater in Fullerton in 2008, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said.

According to prosecutors, Robinson bought a ticket to watch "The Signal," wore dark clothing and sunglasses inside the theater and appeared "agitated and aggressive" when asked to show his movie ticket.

Robinson was kicked out of the theater after refusing to show a security guard whether he had alcohol in his AMC cup. Moments later, he sneaked back into the movie with a folded pocket knife and a hammer, and that's when he began his attack, prosecutors said.

Robinson got up from his seat and began swinging his knife at 38-year-old Julio Sanchez, stabbing him five times in the head, arm, chest and knee, prosecutors said. Robinson then stabbed 65-year-old Eloy Uresti in the arm and struck him with a hammer as the victim tried to shield himself.

The attacks took place while police officers were in the lobby responding to a call about a bag of hallucinogenic mushrooms that was found after Robinson had asked a cashier earlier if anyone had found a "baggie," prosecutors said.

Officers saw Sanchez run out to the lobby covered in blood and went inside to investigate. Robinson fled through an exit door. Prosecutors said he was eventually found hiding at his brother's apartment in Las Vegas.

"The defendant was in possession of several books on the topic of serial killers and the torture and murder of their victims," prosecutors said.

Robinson used the online screen name "psychokiller666" and posted about killing and mass murder, investigators said.

In 2009, Robinson was convicted of two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation and was sentenced to 22 years to life in state prison. His conviction was tossed on a technicality, but he was retried, convicted and faces the 22 years to life he had originally been sentenced to.

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