Suspect Arrested In Fatal Stabbing At Tongva Park

SANTA MONICA, CA – A suspect was arrested for his possible involvement in a stabbing murder at a Santa Monica park. The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Joseph Ramirez Perez.

On Wednesday at about 8:12 p.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a radio call for service at Tongva Park, located at 1615 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. Officers found a man on a park bench suffering from a stab wound in the abdomen area, and saw another man running away from the crime scene. SMPD officers were able to quickly detain the suspect, Perez, for an investigation, and arrested him shortly after, police said.

Santa Monica Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene to treat the victim and transported him to a local hospital, where he died, police said.

In a preliminary investigation, SMPD Detectives found that the victim may have been sleeping on a park bench prior to the assault, .

Perez was booked for murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in custody at SMPD Jail with a $2 million bail, police said.

Any possible motive and actions leading up to the assault remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to call Detective Goodwin at (310) 458-8942; Detective J. Rodriguez (310) 458-2233; or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.

Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Police Department