Crime & Safety
Sonoma State University Homicide Victim Identified
A 19-year-old Santa Rosa man is being held without bail on suspicion of fatally stabbing the victim Sunday in a student housing unit.
ROHNERT PARK, CA — A man found stabbed to death Sunday at a Sonoma State University dorm was publicly identified Tuesday by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office as Steven John Garcia, 26, of Santa Rosa.
"His family has been notified," sheriff's officials said in a statement. "Our condolences go out to his family, friends and the Sonoma State University community."
University police and fire personnel responded to reports at 5:53 p.m. Sunday, May 13 that a man had been stabbed inside an apartment at Sauvignon Village, one of six student housing communities on the Rohnert Park campus.
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Garcia was pronounced deceased at 6:06 p.m., according to David Dougherty, interim chief of police for Sonoma State University.
Authorities detained 19-year-old Santa Rosa man Tyler Bratton that evening in connection with the fatal stabbing. Bratton was later arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Sonoma County Jail. Records Tuesday showed he was being held without bail.
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Police recovered a knife and a backpack from the scene and interviewed at least two people they believe witnessed the stabbing.
Homicide investigators were not immediately able to determine a possible motive, but believe Bratton and Garcia were acquaintances and were involved in some kind of dispute and altercation.
Several people lived inside the apartment where the fatal incident took place, police said, noting that neither Bratton nor Garcia were currently enrolled as students at Sonoma State University.
Bratton has had prior police contacts, said Lt. Tim Lyons of the Petaluma Police Department, the agency leading the investigation into the homicide that occurred on the eve of finals and graduation week.
"At no point were other students at risk, but we are asking any individuals who may be witnessed something to contact the Petaluma Police Department," Lyons said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 Dead In Sonoma State University Stabbing
Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com
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