Davis Stabbing Case: Jury Convicts Dominguez of Involuntary Manslaughter, Not Murder

The jury in the Carlos Reales Dominguez case has reached a verdict in one of the most high-profile criminal trials to impact the Sacramento region in recent years. On Tuesday, jurors found Dominguez guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter with weapons enhancements for the deaths of David Breaux and UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm, who were killed during a stabbing spree in April and May 2023. Critically, they acquitted him of second-degree murder and attempted murder charges, a decision that hinges on how his mental state was understood during the attacks. One woman, Kimberlee Guillory, survived her injuries from the spree.

This was Dominguez’s second trial. The first ended in a mistrial in 2025 when the jury acquitted him of first-degree murder but could not reach consensus on other charges. The retrial centered on the distinction between murder, which requires malice and premeditation, and involuntary manslaughter, which applies when someone dies from reckless behavior without that calculated intention. The prosecution argued that Dominguez’s heavy cannabis use exacerbated his underlying schizophrenia, making him dangerous and culpable. The defense maintained that his untreated mental illness triggered his first psychotic episode, fundamentally altering his ability to form intent.

The case continues into a new phase. Starting Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., a sanity determination proceeding will begin to assess whether Dominguez was legally sane at the time of the crimes. This phase could significantly affect his sentencing and the overall handling of his case by the justice system. For the Davis community, which experienced genuine fear during the 2023 attacks, this verdict marks an important moment in the legal process, though the full resolution of the case remains ongoing. What aspects of this case have been most important to you or your family?