Police say 19-year-old Jose Matus stabbed the driver of a white pick up truck after the truck hit and killed his younger brother. Matus then took off in the truck. His 17-year-old brother died on the scene.

 

"It was so surreal I didn't know what was going on until I was physically walking through the crime scene," an anonymous witness said.

 

An eye witness recalls the gruesome scene outside his home.

 

"I just felt an immediate death in the air. It just felt very sad," an anonymous witness said.

 

Police say the teen was hit while walking on Cathedral Canyon but the driver didn't break any laws and isn't facing criminal charges.

 

The driver pulled over and even called 911. He was trying to help the teen when the teen's older brother came outside, stabbed the driver and then took off in his car.

 

Police found 19-year-old Jose Matus just after midnight, still driving around in the white pickup. He was arrested and charged for assault with a deadly weapon and vehicle theft by force. 

 

"In the course of our investigation we're still trying to determine, whether or not, what the motive is, and what actually transpired but that's something investigators are still working on in dealing with the brother suspect," Cathedral City Police Captain Charles Robinson said.

 

Back on Cathedral Canyon just steps from a makeshift memorial, neighbor Lance Johnson says he's almost been hit by cars several times. He says drivers ignore speed limits and race down the street. Johnson says it was only a matter of time before someone actually died, but he never expected a neighbor would pull a knife. 

 

"For someone to pull over and then be stabbed by somebody, that's a little shocking," neighbor Lance Johnson said.

 

He says the neighborhood sees its fair share of violence, but is getting better. Lance is more worried about cars barreling through the streets and hopes the loss of a teen will encourage people to slow down and be more careful.

 

The driver who was stabbed is expected to make a full recovery.  Anyone who may have witnessed the crash and subsequent stabbing and carjacking is asked to please call Cathedral City Police. 

 

--Adrianna Weingold

aweingold@kmir6.com