Man faces murder, attempted murder charges for alleged stabbing attack on parents

A 24-year-old man who suffers from medically documented psychiatric issues was charged with murder and premeditated attempted murder Tuesday for allegedly killing his father and wounding his mother in a knife attack at their home in Hayward last Wednesday night, authorities said.

William East-McCormack is being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail on charges stemming from the alleged attack in the 30000 block of Vanderbilt Street in Hayward at about 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday. His arraignment hasn’t yet been scheduled.

East-McCormack is charged with murder for the stabbing death of his father, 57-year-old Michael McCormack, and premeditated attempted murder for allegedly stabbing his mother, who currently is in stable condition at a hospital, according to police.

East-McCormack also is charged with felony making criminal threats for allegedly threatening his half-sister.

He allegedly stabbed his father in the abdominal area and his father died at the scene, Hayward police Detective Sukhjeet Sangha wrote in a probable cause statement.

East-McCormack also stabbed his mother once, puncturing her lung, then threatened to kill his half-sister before fleeing the scene, according to Sangha.

East-McCormack later returned to the scene of the crime and was detained by police. His mother and half-sister identified him as the suspect in the stabbings and threats, according to Sangha.

When East-McCormack was interviewed by police, he ultimately admitted to stabbing his parents and threatening his half-sister, Sangha wrote.

The fatal stabbing of Michael McCormack is the fifth homicide in Hayward so far this year.