Crime & Safety
Victim Dies Following Murrieta Apartment Complex Stabbing
A Jersey City man was arrested in the case, but formal court charges against him were still pending Tuesday.
MURRIETA, CA — A stabbing last week at a Murrieta apartment complex has turned fatal, police announced Monday.
Gekeith McDuffie, 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey, is facing a possible murder charge after the 32-year-old man he is suspected of stabbing died Sunday while hospitalized due to critical injuries.
McDuffie remains jailed at Southwest Detention Center. In addition to a possible murder charge, he is also being held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
Formal court charges against McDuffie were still pending as of late Tuesday morning, and the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said it is still reviewing the case.
"A filing decision has not been made at this time," according to Molly Smith, public information officer for the DA's office.
According to the Murrieta Police Department, McDuffie's arrest came after late-night July 2 reports about a man being chased at the Waterstone Apartments located at 24850 Hancock Avenue.
Officers determined there had been a fight between two men — McDuffie and the victim, whose identity has not been released.
During the altercation, McDuffie pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim, according to the police department.
The incident occurred in the north driveway of the apartment complex parking lot.
Prior to officers' arrival, the victim was transported to a local hospital "in a private vehicle," police said. He remained hospitalized in serious condition until his death on Sunday.
During the investigation, McDuffie was located and arrested.
It's unclear how the two men knew each other or why they were allegedly fighting.
Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and are seeking any cellphone, surveillance, or dash camera footage that may have captured the incident or the movements of those involved before or after the stabbing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective B. Williams at 951-970-8965 or BWilliams@MurrietaCA.gov and reference Murrieta Police Department case number MR26-3127.
