Local News in Brief : Santa Ana : Man Stabs Girlfriend, Himself, Police Say

A 44-year-old woman was stabbed in the chest several times by her live-in boyfriend, who then turned the knife on himself, police said Sunday.

The victim, Gaile Acosta, was in stable condition Sunday at UCI Medical Center in Orange. The suspect, Juan Lopez, 32, was in critical condition at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was treated for stab wounds to his chest and neck, Sgt. Joe Esther said.

Police said Lopez apparently used a knife with a 4-inch blade, which was recovered at Acosta’s home in the 1200 block of South Cedar Street.

What triggered the attack was not clear Sunday, police said.

“It appears it probably started out as some sort of squabble, but . . . (over) exactly what, I don’t know,” Esther said.

Acosta told police that she and her boyfriend were sleeping at 12:45 p.m. Saturday when he awakened her and stabbed her with a knife.

Acosta’s 17-year-old son ran into the bedroom and pulled his mother to safety, Esther said. Lopez then stabbed himself numerous times, he said.