Man Fatally Stabbed on Park Bench Across from Santa Monica City Hall

By Jorge Casuso

October 4, 2018 -- A man was fatally stabbed on a bench in Tongva Park Wednesday night, marking the third murder in Santa Monica in a month and the sixth this year.

Police responding to the incident -- which took place around 8 p.m. in the park across from City Hall -- found the victim suffering from a stab wound to the abdomen area and saw a man running from the scene, police said.

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics and transported to a local hospital, where he died of the injuries a short time later, police said. "Officers saw a male suspect running away from the crime scene and were able to quickly detain the suspect," police said in a statement. The suspect is identified as 21-year-old Joseph Ramirez Perez. He was booked on one count of murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

Police said the victim may have been sleeping on the bench but did not say if the victim was homeless.

The fatal attack comes one week after Ramon Escobar, 47, was charged with a string of assaults in Santa Monica and Los Angeles last month that left four dead ("Escobar Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder in Santa Monica, LA Assaults," September 26, 2018).

Seven of the eight victims were homeless men attacked while they slept.

Four of the victims killed were attacked in Santa Monica, three on the beach and one near Downtown ("Santa Monica Victim of Serial Assailant Dies, Marking Fourth Fatality," October 2, 2018).

Wednesday night's incident took place near last month's attacks.

Perez is being held on $2 million bail.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Friday, authorities said.

Anyone with information about the fatal stabbing is asked to call Detective Goodwin at (310) 458-8942; Detective J. Rodriguez (310) 458-2233; or the Police Department at (310) 458-8491.