A 52-year-old Rialto man was arrested Thursday for allegedly fatally stabbing a homeless man in the Valley Glen area.
Officers responded Wednesday morning to a report of someone being cut and down near the 6000 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard, near the Hollywood (170) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
When they arrived, they found the victim, later identified as local transient John David Bannan III, down at the scene with multiple stab wounds, police said.
Firefighters arrived and pronounced Bannan dead about 9:15 a.m., police said.
Detectives’ preliminary findings are that Bannan had been panhandling outside of a store and exchanged words with the suspect, identified as Kurtis King, as King exited the business, according to the LAPD.
“The nature of the verbal exchange is unknown now, however, whatever was said appears to have incited the suspect,” according to a police statement. “The suspect returned in a vehicle, quickly exited and rushed the victim, tackling him on the sidewalk just north of the store. The suspect stabbed the victim five to six times before fleeing the scene.”
Police did not release details about King’s arrest, but sheriff’s inmate information indicates it occurred at 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, that he was booked Thursday afternoon and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Bannan’s age was not immediately available. Police initially described the stabbing victim as being in his early- to mid-20s.
–City News Service
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