LOS ANGELES — A 19-year-old man was charged with slashing the faces of nine people in a series of random knife attacks in recent weeks.
Lenrey Briones, 19, faces seven counts of aggravated mayhem, two counts of attempted aggravated mayhem and one count of attempted second-degree robbery, all felonies. The charges include allegations that he personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife, and that he had a prior felony conviction.
Briones is accused of cutting the faces of nine people, including men, women and a 13-year-old boy, between March 20 and April 1 as he rode his bike in South Los Angeles, South Gate and Lynwood. The injuries allegedly caused permanent disfigurement to seven of the victims, prosecutors said.
In one instance, he also tried to take a victim’s purse, prosecutors said.
Briones was convicted in September 2018 of attempted arson.
He faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison if convicted as charged. Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $9 million.
