Man, 22, Charged With Killing 2-Year-Old Girl, Stabbing Her Pregnant Mother
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities have formerly charged a 22-year-old man in the fatal stabbing of a 2-year-old girl and a knife attack on her pregnant mother -- his live-in girlfriend.
Lataz Gray was charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder when he appeared in court in downtown Los Angeles.
His arraignment was postponed until May 19.
Gray's bail was set at $4.5 million.
Police said Gray attacked the woman and girl with a knife during a domestic dispute around 9:50 p.m. Monday in the 3500 block of Arlington Avenue in the Jefferson Park area. The girl, identified as Maliaya Tademy, died at a hospital, her mother survived the attack.
The woman was believed to be about five months pregnant.
Authorities said Gray was not the toddler's father.
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"A 2-year-old innocent victim, stabbed multiple times ... this was one of the most vicious incidents that I have seen and been part of in my 28 years in this police department," LAPD Capt. Peter Whittingham said.
Phillip Gray told reporters that his son called him from a hospital, where he was being treated for cuts to his hand, and he told his son to turn himself in.
"Well, I had to, before they kill him," Gray said. "I hooked him up on the line with the detective."
Gray's father said the crime was "a terrible thing, and I'm not feeling good about it at all."
"(The woman) is a beautiful person, and it blew me out of the water for this to happen," Gray said. "But like I said, I really don't know what happened."
Lataz Gray faces up to life in prison if convicted, according to the DA's Office.
