On Wednesday afternoon in Dana Point, California, a tragic event unfolded when a driver struck a doctor riding his bike from behind and then proceeded to get out of his Lexus and fatally stab the victim.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 58-year-old Michael Mammone, an emergency room doctor at Providence Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, was riding his bike in the bike lane on the Pacific Coast Highway when he was hit by the driver, launching him into the Crown Valley Parkway intersection.
The driver, identified as 39-year-old Vanroy Evan Smith, exited the car with a knife and a BB gun and began attacking Mammone.
Witnesses reported that Smith was holding the BB gun when he approached the injured doctor.
Bystanders restrained Smith until law enforcement arrived, with the knife found at the scene.
Mammone was transported to the hospital with severe injuries, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
It is unclear why Smith acted the way he did, and police are exploring all possibilities to discover the motivation behind the attack.
Sargent Mike Woodruff told KTLA, “As of right now, we currently don’t truly understand the why … as far as motivation and any type of relationship.”
He added, “Investigators are keeping all options open to check those boxes, if you will, to make sure they don’t leave anything uncovered.”