Man Stabs Peninsula Roommate, Sets Fire To Home: Police

SAN MATEO, CA – A San Mateo man is under arrest after he allegedly stabbed his roommate, threatened another roommate and set his home on fire Thursday evening, a police lieutenant said. Keith Love, 57, of San Mateo, was booked at the San Mateo County Jail, on no bail, on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and arson.

San Mateo Police Lt. Matthew Earnshaw said the department got a call around 7:41 p.m. from a man who said his roommate threatened to stab him with a knife at their home on North Eldorado Street. The 60-year-old victim also told police Love hit him in the face.

Officers spoke with the victim outside the home and he alleged that Love tried to stab him and then threw the knife at him. Love opened the door, saw police, went inside and locked the door, Earnshaw said.

Police surrounded the home and tried to contact the suspect, then saw smoke and flames. The officers broke down the door and streamed into the residence, Earnshaw said.

When the officers got inside, they saw a second victim holding a knife and told him to put the knife down. The victim obeyed and officers rescued him from the burning home. The victim told police Love had stabbed him with a knife, according to Earnshaw.

As piles of clothing smoldered, the suspect tried to barricade himself in a bedroom closet, Earnshaw said. The officers took custody of Love, who no longer had the knife, taking him out of the home.

The San Mateo Fire Department arrived and put out the fire.Love was taken to the hospital for evaluation of smoke inhalation and then taken to the jail, Earnshaw said.

The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and his stab wounds, which were not life-threatening.

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone