COVINA — A suspect was behind bars Friday in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 38-year-old Covina man in his own backyard.
Gonzalo Robles died at the scene of the stabbing, which took place just before 1:50 p.m. Thursday in the 3600 block of Shadyglen Drive, in an unincorporated county area near Covina, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
Louis Alberto Villaneda, 32, was booked early Friday on suspicion of murder after being treated at a hospital for stab wounds of his own, according to sheriff’s officials and county booking records.
He was detained hours after the stabbing, authorities said, though information on how he came to be in custody was not available.
Deputies who responded to the stabbing found Robles lying facedown in his backyard, according to sheriff’s officials.
He had suffered multiple stab wounds, Winter said, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
According to witnesses, the victim argued with another man and it escalated into a fight, Deputy Kim Manatt of the Sheriff’s Headquarter’s Bureau said in a written statement.
“During the fight, the suspect used a knife to stab the victim,” Manatt said. “The suspect fled the location on foot.”
Deputies closed off surrounding streets and searched the area.
Covina Police Sgt. Ray Marquez said two schools, Royal Oak Middle School and Sierra Vista Middle School, were placed on lockdown for about an hour as deputies conducted a search for suspects.
“Several hours later, a male who appeared to be involved and who was also suffering from a stab wound was detained and transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injury,” Manatt said. “His wounds did not appear to be life threatening.”
Villaneda was arrested on suspicion of murder just after midnight, records show. He was being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the sheriff’s San Dimas Station pending a scheduled arraignment Wednesday in West Covina Superior Court.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
