California university consultant killed in campus stabbing

By Amy Taxin The Associated Press

5 years ago

Orange County coroners remove a body of a stabbing victim from a parking lot from a parking lot ... — Orange County coroners remove a body of a stabbing victim from a parking lot from a parking lot at California State University, Fullerton on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. An employee of the university was killed in a stabbing in a campus parking lot Monday in what police called a targeted attack, though they were not sure of a motive. The victim was in his late 50s and worked in international student admissions at the sprawling campus in Orange County, police Lt. Jon Radus said. He was not immediately identified by authorities. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Police investigate a car where a retired Cal State Fullerton administrator was stabbed to death Monday, August 19, 2019 in Fullerton, Calif. The stabbing happened in Parking Lot S at College Place and Langsdorf Drive in Fullerton. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP)

Police use a bloodhound while searching for a suspect that stabbed to death a retired Cal State Fullerton administrator on Monday, August 19, 2019 in Fullerton, Calif. The stabbing happened in Parking Lot S at College Place and Langsdorf Drive in Fullerton. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP)

FULLERTON, Calif. — A retired administrator working as a consultant to California State University, Fullerton was fatally stabbed Monday in a campus parking lot on the first day of the school year in what police called a targeted attack, though they were not sure of a motive.

Steven Shek Keung Chan, 57, of Hacienda Heights was found inside a silver Infiniti. He had been stabbed many times, police said.

He worked in admissions at the university before retiring and had been rehired for the fall semester.

A witness who called 911 at 8:27 a.m. said the attacker ran away, Fullerton police Lt. Jon Radus said. He was described as being in his 20s with black hair, wearing black pants and a black shirt.

“We do not know motive at this point for what occurred,” Radus told reporters. “We do not believe there is a random stabber.”

A backpack found underneath the car contained a knife-like weapon, items that could be used in a kidnapping, and a bottle filled with a flammable liquid that was capable of being ignited by hand, Radus said.

No order was given to shelter in place after the attack because the man was believed to have left the campus, but police presence was boosted.

The attack came as campus police were filming active-shooter scenarios in Pollack Library and other campus locations as part of emergency preparation. The filming was canceled after the attack, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The nearly 40,000-student commuter school in the middle of its host city in Orange County has the largest enrollment in the 23-campus California State University system. It is well known in the sports world for producing nationally ranked baseball teams and major leaguers including Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Khris Davis of the Oakland Athletics.

The academic year started Monday, with classes to resume later in the week.

In 1976, a custodian with a history of mental illness opened fire with a rifle in the school library, killing seven people and wounding two others. Edward Allaway was convicted and sentenced to a mental hospital.