Argument Turns Deadly in Leesville

A 42-year-old man faces a charge of murder, after deputies said he allegedly stabbed his nephew early Sunday morning at a home on Two Notch Road near Leesville.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts have charged Juan Perez-Jeronimo in the fatal stabbing of Diego Alonzo, age unknown, around 1:49 a.m. Sunday in an apparent dispute over money.

In addition to the murder charge, authorities also have charged Perez-Jeronimo with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He remained in the Lexington County Detention Center on Sunday night.

Both men are suspected illegal aliens from Guatemala who were renting rooms in the house along with other men, Metts said. Even though Perez-Jeronimo is entitled to and will receive a bond hearing before a judge, correctional officers at the Lexington County Detention Center have placed him on detainer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Metts said.

According to the sheriff, deputies arrived at the home at 5270 Two Notch Road and found Alonzo lying partially on a bed in a bedroom in the home. 

A Sheriff’s detective, who is fluent in Spanish, interviewed a witness in Spanish, Metts said. The witness told the detective that he saw Perez-Jeronimo stab Alonzo in his leg with a six-inch, silver-and-white filet knife in Alonzo’s bedroom at their home.

Lexington County Coroner Harry Harman said an autopsy revealed that Alonzo died from blood loss when the knife severed a blood vessel in his right thigh.

After the incident, Metts said Perez-Jeronimo ran away from the Two Notch Road home. A K-9 police dog tracked him to the woods at the rear of the home. The dog apprehended Perez-Jeronimo by biting him on his leg. Deputies then took Perez-Jeronimo into custody, Metts added.

While authorities believe the stabbing took place over money, Metts said the department was still investigating the details of the dispute.

Metts asked anyone with additional information concerning the fatal stabbing of Alonzo to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.