Murder Charges for Accused Costa Mesa Hatchet-Hammer Killer

COSTA MESA, — A Costa Mesa man was charged with murder on Friday for striking a 53-year-old man to death with a hammer.

Arraignment was scheduled for Ivan Chernev Dimov, the 51-year-old Costa Mesa resident faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon. He's being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to Orange County Jail records, which listed his occupation as a driver.

Dimov is accused of killing Kyle Avila of Costa Mesa, according to Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman, who said officers were called about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday to a parking area outside an apartment complex at Vanguard Way and Danbury Lane.

"Witnesses alleged the suspect attacked Avila in his car, and at some point walked away but then returned to continue the assault," Beckman said. "Dimov allegedly pulled Avila from the vehicle and continued the onslaught on the ground."

The suspected murder weapon, which was recovered in the vehicle, was a carpenter's hammer with a hatchet on one end.

"Investigators are stumped about the motive or a relationship between the two," Beckman said. "We haven't established a relationship between the victim and suspect and have no clear motive."

Dimov lives in the apartment complex near the crime scene, and Avila had just moved into the area, the lieutenant said.

The first officer on scene saw the victim lying on his back in a parking area, with obvious signs of traumatic injuries. The suspect was standing nearby unarmed, and when the officer tried to talk to him, he ran away, Beckman said.

The officer chased after the suspect and used a stun gun to take him into custody, Beckman said. Dimov was taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Costa Mesa Police Department Photo