A jury found a man who stabbed a man sleeping in Tongva Park last October guilty of murder in the second degree, the Santa Monica Police Department announced Tuesday.
Joseph "Jesse" Ramirez Perez stabbed the man in the abdomen without provocation while he was sleeping in the park on Oct. 3 at around 8 p.m. SMPD arrived at the scene at 8:12 p.m. and found the man, who later died of his injuries. They arrested Perez, who was seen running from the park.
Perez was booked for murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was on felony probation for assault with a deadly weapon at the time of his arrest.
Perez's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 30 and he is facing fifteen years to life, according to SMPD.
madeleine@smdp.com
