Social Media Dispute Turns Deadly In Pasadena: Police

PASADENA, CA — Police in Pasadena arrested two people in connection with the slaying of a man found stabbed to death in the Rose Bowl parking lot this week. Investigators believe the killing stemmed from a heated exchange on social media.

Police on Friday announced the arrests of Miguel Castaneda, 23, of Los Angeles and Valentina Rosales, 23, of Pasadena. Castaneda is suspected of carrying out the stabbing and Rosales is suspected of being an accessory after the fact, according to Pasadena Police Department Lt. Jason Clawson.

According to investigators Castaneda met with 22-year-old Pasadena resident Demetrio Tapia Jr. Monday in the Rose Bowl parking lot to hash out a social-media dispute in person, and the argument turned violent.

Detectives learned through the investigation that suspect Castaneda and victim Tapia had engaged in a verbal dispute via social media days before the incident," Clawson said.

"This dispute led to both suspect and victim agreeing to meet in parking lot K of the Rose Bowl to settle this dispute, where they engaged in a physical altercation with one another resulting in the stabbing death of victim Tapia," Clawson said.

Castaneda was arrested Tuesday and charged with a single count of murder. Rosales was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with accessory after the fact, according to the District Attorney's Office. I. Castaneda was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, while Rosales was being held on $1 million bail.

If convicted, Castaneda faces 27 years to life in prison, while Rosales is facing up to six years behind bars, prosecutors said.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock