SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 25-year-old man was charged June 14 with a fatal stabbing in Costa Mesa.
Israel Antonio Valencia, 25, was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He is accused of killing a 22-year-old man, whose name has not yet been released.
Another suspect arrested in the case—18-year-old Christopher Mathew Pena—was not charged along with Mr. Valencia.
Officers responded to a knife attack in the 1700 block of Placentia Avenue, near 17th Street, at about 11 p.m. Tuesday. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
While investigating the fatal stabbing, police found a 19-year-old man who had been attacked earlier at Placentia Avenue and Shalimar Drive, according to Roxi Fyad of the Costa Mesa Police Department. That victim, who was taken to a hospital by family members, was believed to have been attacked by the same suspect.
Police suspect the attacks were gang-related.
Anyone who may have helpful information for police on the stabbings was asked to call Detective Ramon Hernandez at 714-754-5097.
