Two men were in custody today for their alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of a man in Long Beach, police said.
The crime occurred about 3:45 a.m. Jan. 2 in the 700 block of Lime Avenue, the Long Beach Police Department reported.
The victim, a man in his 40s who is believed to have been homeless, died at a hospital. His identity was not known.
On Thursday, homicide detectives arrested Diego Martinez, 29, and Federico Chavez, 23, both of Long Beach, police said. Martinez and Chavez were booked on suspicion of murder and were being held in the Long Beach City Jail on $2 million bail each.
“While the motive is still under investigation, detectives believe the victim and suspects were known to each other and were involved in a verbal dispute, which escalated into a fight,” police said in a statement. “That fight further escalated into a stabbing.”
Detectives plan to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office early next week for filing consideration, police said.
Anyone with information on the crime was urged to call detectives at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS.
