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Livermore Man With Mental Issues Charged With Fatally Stabbing Grandmother

LIVERMORE (CBS SF) -- A Livermore man who's been diagnosed as a delusional schizophrenic has been charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly killing his 85-year-old grandmother and wounding his mother in a knife attack last week.

Tyler Haskell, 35, was arraigned on the charges in Alameda County Superior Court in Pleasanton on Monday and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 28 to enter a plea.

According to Livermore police, Tyler Haskell, 35, stabbed his grandmother, Joan Lininger, and his mother, 62-year-old Karla Haskell, with a kitchen knife at their house in the 5300 block of Hillflower Drive at 7:38 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Lininger succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Karla Haskell was treated for a laceration to her arm at a hospital and was later released, according to police.

Police said Tyler Haskell left the residence before officers arrived, but a short time later officers found him a mile away in the 1300 block of North Vasco Road, where he was arrested without incident.

Livermore police Officer Sean Mariconi said Karla Haskell reported the incident by calling 911 and saying, "My son stabbed my mom and me."

Karla Haskell told police that she had been eating dinner with Lininger at the kitchen table just before the incident, according to Mariconi.

Haskell also told police that her son was diagnosed as a delusional schizophrenic and was acting "off," Mariconi said.

Haskell didn't elaborate but told officers that her son hadn't been taking his medication, according to Mariconi.

Haskell said her son walked down the stairs holding a knife, stabbed Lininger in the throat and then stabbed her once in her arm, Mariconi said.

Haskell said her son then dropped the knife, stared at his grandmother and her and then fled out the house's front door, according to Mariconi.

The officers who arrested Tyler Haskell noticed a red substance on his right hand that appeared to be blood, but he didn't have any visible injuries, Mariconi said.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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