Pair Formally Charged in Killing Popular Little League President & Coach in South Bay

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – PHOTOS: Murder victim Frank Navarro; suspects Robert Ruiz and Aaron Vallejo.

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UPDATE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 4:25 p.m.

Two men charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a doorman at a downtown San Jose nightclub early Sunday morning were arraigned this afternoon.

San Jose residents Robert Ruiz, 32, and Aaron Vallejo, 24, are both facing murder charges in the stabbing death of 35-year-old Frank Navarro.

Dave Powell, owner of Tres Gringos Cabo Cantina, said outside the arraignment that Navarro had been working as head of security.

According to police, Ruiz and Vallejo were involved in an altercation with Navarro and his co-workers when Navarro was stabbed.

Navarro was pronounced dead at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, according to a Facebook post by Angela Tirado, the vice president of Eastridge Little League in East San Jose.

Navarro was the beloved president of the league and, according to social media posts, also coached baseball and football at Overfelt High School.

Ruiz and Vallejo are each expected to enter a plea on March 21. They are being represented by the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office and are being held without bail.

Ruiz has also been charged with reckless driving while evading police early Sunday morning.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office sealed the statement of facts on the case, and Deputy District Attorney Lance Daugherty declined to comment after today's hearing.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched, entitled the Frank Navarro Memorial Fund, to help cover the cost of his memorial services.

"Frank was an amazing man who was with our company for over 16 years," wrote the campaign's organizer, David. "He was an integral part of the success of our businesses throughout his time with us. He was not just a co-worker, he was family.

"He was the president of San Jose's Eastridge little league for years even though he didn't have any kids of his own. He worked tirelessly in his community and was always there with a helping hand for anyone in need. The world suffered an unfathomable loss in Frank Navarro and is a much darker place. We will miss him dearly."

To date, the fund has received $23,983 toward its $25,000 goal. Details here.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1:17 p.m.

Two men were arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly fleeing a downtown San Jose nightclub where an employee and Little League president was stabbed to death.

San Jose residents Robert Ruiz, 32, and Aaron Vallejo, 24, were allegedly involved in an altercation with 35-year-old Frank Navarro and Navarro's co-workers at Tres Gringos Cabo Cantina when Navarro was stabbed.

Officers were dispatched to the cantina, located at 83 S. Second St., at 12:06 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Navarro was pronounced dead at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, according to a Facebook post by Angela Tirado, the vice president of Eastridge Little League in East San Jose.

Navarro was the president of the league and, according to social media posts, also coached baseball and football at Overfelt High School.

Mourners held a candlelight vigil on a baseball field Sunday evening for Navarro, who was remembered as a mentor to many young people in the community.

Both Ruiz and Vallejo were booked into the county jail on suspicion of homicide. They are scheduled to appear in court this afternoon and are being held without bail.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched, entitled the Frank Navarro Memorial Fund, to help cover the cost of his memorial services.

"Frank was an amazing man who was with our company for over 16 years," wrote the campaign's organizer, David. "He was an integral part of the success of our businesses throughout his time with us. He was not just a co-worker, he was family.

"He was the president of San Jose's Eastridge little league for years even though he didn't have any kids of his own. He worked tirelessly in his community and was always there with a helping hand for anyone in need. The world suffered an unfathomable loss in Frank Navarro and is a much darker place. We will miss him dearly."

To date, the fund has received $23,883 toward its $25,000 goal. Details here.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Image courtesy of GoFundMe and SJPD