A 19-year-old homeless man once convicted of attempted arson was charged with slashing nine people with a knife while riding past them on a bicycle in attacks in recent weeks across Los Angeles County.
Lenrey Briones faces seven counts of aggravated mayhem, two counts of attempted aggravated mayhem and one count of attempted second-degree robbery, prosecutors said.
The charges include allegations that he personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife, and that he had a prior felony conviction.
Briones is accused of cutting the faces of nine people, including men, women and a 13-year-old boy, between March 20 and April 1 as he rode his bike in South Los Angeles, South Gate and Lynwood, authorities said.
The attacks left seven victims permanently disfigured, prosecutors said. In one attack a young mother was slashed across the neck.
In one attack, the suspect tried to take a purse, prosecutors said.
