The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with a murder in Tongva Park.
SMPD announced the arrest of Joseph Ramirez Perez, 21, on Thursday morning after a man was stabbed and killed in the park on Wednesday night.
According to a press release, officers responded to the park at about 8:12 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 3 for an assault with a deadly weapon call and found the victim suffering from a wound to the stomach.
“Additionally, officers saw a male suspect running away from the crime scene and were able to quickly detain the suspect (Perez) for an investigation,” said the release. “Santa Monica Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene to treat the victim and transported him to a local hospital. Unfortunately, while at the hospital, the victim succumbed to his injuries a short time later.”
The circumstances of the assault are still under investigation but officers said the victim may have been sleeping on a park bench prior to the attack.
Perez was booked for murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Perez remains in custody at SMPD Jail with a bail of $2 million pending future court proceedings. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office-Airport Division Courthouse on October 5, 2018 for filing consideration.
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
