A 29-year-old man has been charged with the stabbing death of his 82-year-old grandmother and attempted murder of his 56-year-old mother, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Richard Jesus Flores (dob 12/22/87) of Palmdale faces one count each of murder and attempted murder in case BA455964.

Renee Rose, Deputy in Charge of the Elder Abuse Section, said Flores also is alleged to have used a letter opener and a garden tool as a deadly and dangerous weapon. The defendant also is alleged to have inflicted great bodily injury upon the victims, one of which was over the age of 60.

Arraignment was scheduled for yesterday but the court appearance was continued to today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

On March 30, the defendant reportedly attacked his grandmother, Maria Valenzuela, whom he lived with, and his mother, the prosecutor said. During the alleged attack, Flores stabbed his grandmother to death and injured his mother as she tried to shield the alleged murder victim, the prosecutor added.

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of 33 years to life in state prison. Bail is requested at $2 million.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case BA455964 / April 04, 2017