Yesterday twenty year old Belizean student at UCLA Damon Thompson pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder. Damon Thompson a former graduate of St. John’s College Junior College is accused of stabbing a fellow female chemistry student inside the university’s lab. The following is a television report from Los Angeles on the incident.
[Transcript of News Report:
Reporter,
“20 year old Damon Thompson appeared in court charged with stabbing a female student in his chemistry class at UCLA. Thompson pleaded not guilty to premeditated attempted murder. The judge increased his bail from one million to three million dollars. Police say Thompson brought a concealed six inch kitchen knife into the class last week and completely unprovoked, he stabbed the woman five times. The victim’s name hasn’t been released but she is now in good condition after being treated in intensive care at this Los Angeles Hospital. Authorities say the attack was premeditated but they haven’t been able to determine a motive or whether the victim was chosen at random. Several people witnessed the attack and this woman helped the victim who was bleeding profusely.”
Stacie Nakamoto, UCLA Lecturer
“I believe she was bleeding but her eyes were rolled back into her head and I just called her name and told her to stay with me.”
Reporter,
“Thompson and the victim had no known relationship other than working in the same class. Police say the whole attack lasted only about 15 seconds with the woman stabbed three times in the arm and hand and one each in the back and neck. Witnesses tell police that Thompson walked calmly into a student information office and told a staff member he had stabbed someone. Police say they found the knife at the crime scene.”]
Thompson’s bail has been set at three million U.S. dollars after a judge determined that Thompson who is a native of Belize was a risk to leave the country. 7News understands that his mother has flown to the United States to be with her son and his dad who reportedly lives in the United States was also present at the arraignment.
