CARLSBAD — Carlsbad police arrested 35-year-old Rafael Chavez in a stabbing-carjacking case that involved two victims.

Just before 7 a.m. Aug. 22, officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the Shell Gas Station, at 1145 Carlsbad Village Drive. According to Lt. Kelly Cain, the gas station clerk called police after finding a 50-year old man lying in a pool of blood on the sidewalk. The victim was conscious with several stab wounds and was transported by helicopter to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla and hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.

It was learned that the victim had been confronted by the suspect, Chavez, who demanded the victim’s wallet. A brief scuffle ensued and the victim was stabbed.

Further investigation revealed that Chavez arrived at the gas station in a vehicle that he had carjacked earlier that day in the 3300 block of Roosevelt Street in Carlsbad. Chavez and his carjack victim were at the Shell Station because the vehicle was out of gas.

After stabbing the victim at the Shell Station, the suspect forced the carjack victim to drive to a residence in Vista.

After dropping off the suspect, the carjack victim proceeded in his car to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department substation in San Marcos to report the crime. Sheriff’s personnel contacted Carlsbad Police Department. At the same time as Carlsbad and San Diego Sheriff’s personnel were responding to the Vista residence, police received a call from a neighbor reporting a suspicious person at the residence. Deputies and officers arrived on scene and arrested Chavez after a positive identification by the carjacking victim.