Ruby Vasquez, 3

Ruby Vasquez, a 3-year-old Latina, was fatally stabbed Monday, Oct. 31, in the 800 block of McGarry Street in downtown L.A., according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 5 p.m., the child, who was at a garment factory where her parents work, went to give her father a cookie, according to Los Angeles County prosecutors.

Ruby was seen running with a man close behind who stabbed the child, police and prosecutors said.

The child’s mother flagged down an ambulance, said Los Angeles Police Capt. Jorge Rodriguez. Ruby was taken to a hospital where she died.

Witnesses told police that man accused of being the attacker -- authorities identified Ricardo Augusto Utuy, a 34-year-old Latino, as the suspect in the killing -- would sometimes talk and laugh to himself, Rodriguez said.

“He would do certain things that would lead them to believe he was not all there,” Rodriguez said.

Although the child’s mother and Utuy worked at the same place, they had limited contact with each other, police said.

Police later found that Utuy was also suspected of stabbing a woman at another factory downtown on March 10.

Utuy was charged Nov. 3 with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder with the allegation that he used a knife.

Utuy is due back in court Dec. 7.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD’s Juvenile Division Abused Child Section at (213) 486-0586. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.