DENVER (KDVR) — Denver police said a man has been arrested in connection to four stabbings along 16th Street that killed a woman and a man and injured two others over the weekend.

Late Sunday night, Denver police posted on X that an adult man had been formally arrested for the three stabbings on Saturday and the deadly stabbing Sunday night. Police said the man hadn’t been booked into jail yet, so his identity will be released Monday.

4 separate stabbings reported along 16th Street

At about 5:12 p.m. Saturday, police first responded to a stabbing at 16th Street and Tremont Street where an adult man suffered a non-life-threatening injury.

Shortly after at about 5:17 p.m. Saturday, police responded to another stabbing at 16th and California Street. When officers arrived, one victim was taken to the hospital with throat wounds. On Sunday, Denver police said the female victim had died at the hospital.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said she will be identified by the Denver County Coroner’s Office when appropriate.

At 5:54 p.m., Denver police were called to 16th and Lawrence Street for another stabbing. An adult man suffered critical injuries but was in stable condition as of Sunday evening, according to Thomas.

At about 10 p.m. on Sunday, the Denver Police Department posted on X that another stabbing had occurred in the 1600 block of Market Street. One victim was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Four people were stabbed along 16th Street on Jan. 11-12 (KDVR)

Following the fourth stabbing, an adult male suspect was taken into custody. Police confirmed at around 11:30 p.m., that this suspect was formally arrested for all four cases.

Police do not believe the suspect and the victims had any connection to each other before the stabbing.

‘Be vigilant’ if heading to downtown area

Because of the incidents, Thomas warned people going about their business in the downtown area to be vigilant.

Thomas said during a press conference Sunday evening that the suspect was “indiscriminately” stabbing people but said all of the victims had been on their own before the violence. He asked anyone heading downtown to bring someone with them or to remain vigilant if they had to be alone. He said additional foot, bicycle and motorcycle patrols are in the area.

“There’s someone out there who is indiscriminately stabbing people and causing significant harm,” Thomas said. “These individuals were by themselves, so I would say that if you’re going to be in the downtown area, or really anywhere in the city, I think that it’s best that you be with somebody, and if you have to be alone, be vigilant and make sure you’re paying attention to your surroundings.”

16th Street Mall business community on edge

FOX31’s Kasia Kerridge spoke to business owners who said construction for the 16th Street Mall has caused increased crime in the area.

Shyam Shrestha, of Mt. Everest Imports of Himalaya, said his business opened in 1997, and the construction has caused a loss of almost 80%.

“Crime actually is increasing, due to the construction,” Shrestha said. “Less of a walking area, they block, very isolated area now, no lights. They have not turned on lights so it’s a dark area, lots of homeless people.”

Shrestha said his store had been robbed four or five times in the past two to three years, with suspects breaking the business’s front door and stealing jewelry. Shrestha said a cousin was at the store when the stabbing that led to the woman’s death occurred.

“I told him, be careful, close the store, just go home,” Shrestha said. “He closed the store, but he told me police came immediately, four or five police cars came, blocked the railway track.”

Lee Gallegos, a resident of the area, told FOX31’s Shaul Turner that the violence was unfortunate.

“It’s unfortunate with the violence and everything that’s going on, but you know what we just want to see everything turn around and make it a safe place for all of us,” Gallegos said.

Akira Haynes of The Yard Milkshake Bar said members of the homeless community have begun frequenting the area and sometimes fights have broken out, as well as dumpster fires and drug deals.

“I think it’s kind of always been like this. It’s downtown so it’s kind of always like this,” Haynes said. “That’s kind of crazy. It’s like I work here so you would think it would be safe a little bit, but again, it’s downtown.”

Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the stabbings can report it to the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7967 or online.