Man, 73, Allegedly Kills Relative in Laguna Niguel's Second Fatal Stabbing in 24 Hours

Police are working to determine if the stabbing death of a man at a Laguna Niguel home Monday night was a homicide or an act of self-defense.

According to Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, a 73-year-old man stabbed to death a 49-year-old relative at a home on the 31400 block of Isla Vista.

Deputies arrived at the house at 5:23 p.m. Monday in response to a domestic violence call, and an injured elderly man confessed to stabbing his relative.

“He met deputies out in front of house. He was covered in blood,” Hallock said.

The incident was the result of a family disturbance involving four relatives.

“At some point, the male adults got into a physical altercation,” said Hallock.

The younger man was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead. The 73-year-old was also treated at the hospital for his injuries, added Hallock.

“We are not investigating this as a murder,” he added. Detectives will continue to investigate the stabbing and refer the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s office to determine if charges are necessary.

The incident was the second fatal stabbing in the city Monday and the third in Laguna Niguel this year.

A 22-year-old man was stabbed to death during a fight with another man at a Laguna Niguel bar early Monday morning and sheriff’s investigators were searching for the suspect, who is a documented gang member, authorities said.

In February, a 50-year-old Laguna Niguel woman accused of stabbing to death her live-in boyfriend.