A man confirmed as experiencing homelessness held a knife to the throat of 16-year-old boy on Santa Monica Pier over the July 4 holiday weekend. At approximately 2:35pm on Sunday, July 7, the suspect, Francisco Daniel Espindola, approached the boy, who was fishing with his mother near the west end of Santa Monica Pier.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), Espindola grabbed the victim’s fishing knife from a nearby bench, approached from the side and held the sharpened side of the blade to the boy’s neck and said in Spanish, “Be careful. I can kill you.”
The boy immediately lifted his hands and simultaneously the victim’s mother moved toward the suspect and laughed in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
Espindola (DOB: 03-16-1991) kept the knife raised for 5-10 seconds before setting the knife back down and retreating to a nearby bench where he remained, staring at mother and son.
After a minute or so, Espindola, who is currently homeless, then retreated further westbound on the Pier and out of sight. The victim’s mother flagged down an SMPD Harbor Guard who radioed for backup and broadcast a description of the suspect.
Officers working the Pier detail quickly located the suspect and were able to take him into custody nearby. Thankfully, neither victim nor mother were injured in the incident.
On Tuesday July 9, the District Attorney filed one charge of Assault with a Deadly Weapon (245(a)(1) PC). Espindola is currently on probation for robbery.
Speaking to the Daily Press, Lieutenant Erika Aklufi said, “As you will agree, this incident was extremely distressing for both the victim and his mother and we are all very, very glad we were able to get this individual in custody.”
“During his interview with detectives, he [Espindola] appeared extremely altered. To think that the victim’s mother was able to keep herself together and de-escalate the situation right there in the moment is incredible. Now that this case has been filed with the DA and the prelim approaches, our Youth and Family Services detective (assigned because the victim is under 18) will do everything possible to make sure Espindola is held to account," Aklufi said.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
