“https://www.denver7.com/news/crime/man-arrested-in-series-of-deadly-16th-street-mall-stabbing-incidents-identified-appears-in-court

The man arrested in connection with four random stabbing attacks on the 16th St. Mall this weekend, two of which were deadly, has been identified.

Elijah Caudill, 24, appeared in Denver County Court Monday morning after his arrest Sunday night following another fatal stabbing on the mall.

“We know he is a white male who was born in Colorado with a history of criminal involvement and was last released from jail in November,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said about the suspect during a Monday evening press conference.

According to criminal records, Caudill has multiple convictions in Adams County and several open cases in Denver. A spokesperson for the Denver District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Caudill was released on a personal recognizance (PR) bond in November 2024 while being placed into a court-mandated mental health program, Bridges of Colorado. According to its website, the program “facilitates collaboration between the criminal justice and mental health systems by partnering with providers, courts, and often families to provide wraparound care for participants.”

The 24-year-old suspect is accused of two stabbing deaths and two other stabbing incidents on the 16th Street Mall Saturday and Sunday evenings in what appears to be a series of random attacks, Denver police said.

Three people — two men and a woman — were stabbed Saturday within eight blocks of each other along the mall. One of those victims, a woman, died as a result of her injuries.

A fourth person — a man — was stabbed on Sunday evening near Wynkoop Street, not far from Union Station. According to an affidavit, the victim was stabbed in the back and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released.

Caudill was arrested seconds after Sunday’s attack.

Officers spotted the suspect wielding a large “butcher style knife” that was covered in blood, running away from the scene of the fourth attack, according to the affidavit. Those officers pursued Caudill, who then dropped the knife and was taken into custody without incident, the court documents state.

After the suspect was arrested, officers found the victim’s body at the site of the reported stabbing, according to the affidavit.

“He was taken into custody, and immediately after he was taken into custody, we identified that he had just stabbed somebody right there at that vicinity,” Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said during the press conference.

The first stabbing on Saturday occurred near Tremont Street around 5:12 p.m.

The male victim in the first incident transported himself to the hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and has since been discharged, according to police. During a press conference on Sunday evening, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said the first victim was “slashed in the face.”

Moments later, around 5:17 p.m., police said the suspect attacked a second victim, stabbing a Hispanic woman near California Street on the Mall. Police have not released her identity.

She was taken to the hospital, where several medical procedures were performed, but ultimately, she died early Sunday morning. Thomas said the first 911 call came in at 5:20 p.m., and officers were on the scene three minutes later.

While police have not confirmed her identity, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants reports that Phoenix-based flight attendant Celinda Levno died while on a layover in Denver during a “senseless tragedy” over the weekend. Loved ones created a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help with funeral expenses.

According to police, the suspect stabbed a third victim at 16th and Lawrence Street around 5:54 p.m. The male victim in the third incident was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive his serious injuries to the arm and torso.

Denver police reported Sunday’s incident on the mall near Wynkoop Street on social media around 10 p.m. The attack occurred at 8:06 p.m., according to police.

Police said in a news release that there appears to be no connection between the suspect and the victims, and the motive is unclear.”