Indio man arrested for allegedly stabbing 4 at Date Festival

An Indio man was in custody Friday for allegedly stabbing four people at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival last month. Christopher Benavidez, 18, was arrested Friday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the incident that left three men and a juvenile wounded.

Sheriff’s deputies say Benavidez was the culprit behind the Feb. 19 stabbings at Indio’s Riverside County Fairgrounds, which left the victims hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Tapp.

Sheriff’s deputies did not disclose a motive for the attacks.

Members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crimes Gang Task Force served a search warrant Friday morning at a home in the 45500 block of Monroe Street, where Christopher Benavidez was taken into custody along with Jose Benavidez, who was arrested on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.

Both men were booked into the Riverside County jail in Indio.

Deputies said the investigation was still ongoing and anyone with additional information was asked to contact Gang Task Force Officer James at (760) 836-1720.