PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Hector Ortiz uses sign language to explain to friends and neighbors what happened. He was the only one home, not injured when a man came inside this group home for the hearing impaired Friday morning and started stabbing.
"He used a knife, a big knife ... a huge knife," says Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
Justin Lee Vandenburgh, 22, and Hector's mother, 59-year-old Mary Anne Allis were both killed, stabbed multiple times in the attack. Two other women including 43-year-old Janice Rhoden were seriously wounded.
"These are good people. There was no sense in this. That man is crazy," said Dawn Hinkle, a neighbor and friend of the victims.
From there, investigators believe the suspect, 45-year-old Anthony Giancola took off towards the nearby Kenvins Motel on Haines Road. There, police believe he used a microwave bashing the owners Kanu and Indiranden Patel, both 57, over the head.
They were transported to Bayfront Medical Center with potentially life threatening injuries but are expected to survive.
"This is the worst of the worst, because this all appears to be random crime at this point," said Sheriff Gualtieri early on in the investigation.
It wasn't over yet. Deputies say that Giancola took off again, mowing over multiple people in his car. Four adults were hit on a front porch and a 13-year old boy was also hit riding his bicycle down the street.
"I think that guy was a nut job or messed up or something," said Kole Price, who suffered a hurt ankle and leg while riding his bike in his grandfather's front yard. "All of a sudden this guy rolls in and hits me ... then he keeps on going and tries to kill me!"
Investigators aren't yet sure of a motive but say Giancola, who appeared messed up on drugs and or alcohol may have known, or thought he knew some of the victims.
"He told his mother she would be really proud of him because he just killed 10 drug dealers," said Sheriff Gualtieri.
Witnesses were able to provide authorities a good description of the suspect and his vehicle. Police eventually found Giancola hiding in some brush not far from his mother's house. He is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail.
10 News has done several stories in the past on Giancola:
Beau Zimmer, 10 News