Filipino Man Stabbed Multiple Times During Robbery and Gets Ear Cut Off

November 9, 2021

EL CAJON, California—A 71-year-old Filipino man is recovering after a horrific assault outside a trolley station in El Cajon, reports ABC10 News.

Last Wednesday, around 5 am, at the Arnele Avenue trolly stop, Jose Serra got off and began the quarter-mile walk to a manufacturing facility, where his friend Todd Jones, had hired him for odd jobs, according to ABC10.

Police say Serra was followed off the trolley for about a block and was then attacked with a 12” knife.

“Was just walking down the sidewalk. This guy came up to him, pulled out a knife and just starts poking him and slashing him,” Todd Jones stated to ABC10 News.

After getting stabbed several times, the assailant ran off, possibly with Serra’s backpack. Serra was later found by a bystander.

“He was stabbed in the hand and arm, slashed in the back of his head to the front. Ear was dangling on there. He’s had to have plastic surgery,” stated Jones.

Jones also continued to explain Serra was stabbed twice in the stomach area, which damaged his intestines.

“One stab went all the way through the back and cut his main artery back there. The nurse told me that no one usually survives that. Looks like he’s going to make it through … miracle,” said Jones.

Serra was already suffering from health issues throughout the year before the attack and now faces a long road to recovery. He recently lost his job as a janitor, according to Jones.

“We need to get this guy, because a guy that works a guy knife like this could definitely kill anybody,” Jones stated.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male with a shaved head, 5’9” to 6’, around 175 to 200 pounds with tattoos on his arm and possibly face. Before attacking Serra, the assailant asked him directions to Spring Valley.

Anyone with information is asked to call El Cajon Police at 619-579-3311 or Crimestoppers at 888-580-8477.