UPDATE: Man *stabbed* to death during brawl at Monterey Park pizza parlor

MONTEREY PARK — A brawl inside a pizza parlor Saturday ended with one man fatally stabbed, and another behind bars accused of murder, authorities said.

An officer-involved shooting also took place outside the restaurant in the aftermath of the killing, however no one was injured, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s and Monterey Park police officials.

Patrick Raymond Ortega, 25, of Monterey Park died in the stabbing, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.

Jose De Jesus Salas, 22, of Bakersfield, who was initially identified by authorities as Jose Ruiz, was found hiding in a car parked near the crime scene and arrested, shriff’s officials said. He was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The stabbing, which was first reported to authorities as a shooting, took place just after 7 p.m. at Shakey’s, 1955 S. Atlantic Blvd., said Detective Steve Blagg of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which is assisting Motnerey Park police in the stabbing investigation.

Police first responded to a report of a “large number” of people fighting inside the restaurant, Monterey Park police Lt. Eric Kim said. As officers were en route, they received a second call reporting that gunshots had been fired inside the restaurant.

Upon arrival, officers found no shooting had occurred, but a man had been fatally stabbed in the “upper body,” Blagg said. The victim, later identified as Ortega, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Monterey Park police officers who first arrived at the pizzeria encountered many people leaving the scene, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.

“An officer attempted to stop a vehicle fleeing the scene at a high (rate of) speed, at which time an officer involved shooting occurred,” according to the statement.

“It drove toward the officer, who fired one round from a shotgun,” Blagg said.

The car came to a stop, according to Monterey Park police Sgt. John Martindale. No one inside the car, nor any officers, were injured.

The people inside the car were detained and questioned, and a woman who was driving was being investigated for assault on a police officer, Martindale said.

They were not, however, arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing, officials said.

Because the officer-involved shooting resulted in no injuries, that portion of the investigation was being handled internally by Monterey Park police, Blagg said. Police released no further details regarding the officer-involved shooting Sunday.

It was unclear what exactly led to the fight that preceded the stabbing, the detective said.

Salas was at the restaurant with a youth football team. He was not a parent or coach with the team, Blagg said, but rather a friend of parents involved with the organization.

Ortega was not part of the youth football team gathering, Blagg said. He was believed to be having dinner with friends when the fight erupted.

The knife believed to have been used in the stabbing was recovered at the scene, however Blagg declined describe the weapon, citing the ongoing investigation.

Atlantic Boulevard remained closed in both directions through the night as detectives investigated the scene, but was reopened Sunday morning, police said.

The restaurant was open for business Sunday. A manager declined to comment on the incident, referring questions to police.

According to county booking records, Salas was being held without bail pending a scheduled arraignment Wednesday in Alhambra Superior Court.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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