Parolee charged with attempted murder in random DTLA stabbing of elderly woman

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman stabbed in downtown LA

A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being stabbed in downtown Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES - A random and "vicious" stabbing in downtown Los Angeles has left a 70-year-old woman hospitalized and a parolee facing life in prison. 

What we know:

On March 31, at around 10:15 a.m., a woman was walking near Hope Street and Olympic Boulevard when she was approached from behind and stabbed in the neck, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Kenneth Gibson, allegedly used a "gutting object" before fleeing through a nearby apartment complex. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman stabbed in neck in downtown LA; suspect faces attempted murder charge

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries, including a broken neck and a punctured artery, but is currently in stable condition, authorities said. 

Gibson, who was out on parole at the time of the incident, was apprehended near the Los Angeles Public Library three hours after the attack.

What we don't know:

While the victim is currently stable, officials noted she may require additional surgeries to recover from her extensive neck injuries. 

It remains unclear what specific prior conviction Gibson was on parole for at the time of Tuesday's assault. 

While the District Attorney's office has labeled the attack "random," the specific motive—or lack thereof—is still a primary focus of the ongoing LAPD investigation.

What they're saying:

"This was a random and vicious attack on an innocent woman who was doing nothing wrong," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. "This kind of violence doesn’t just hurt the victim; it shakes our entire community. Everyone should feel safe walking the streets of Los Angeles."

What's next:

Gibson is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday. 

He faces one count of willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder. 

If a jury finds him guilty as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.