Accused Murderer Caught In Beaumont

BANNING, CA — A murder charge was filed Wednesday against a man accused of fatally stabbing a 23-year-old Hemet resident during a confrontation at a house. Mark Anthony Acevedo, 22, was arrested Sunday in Beaumont, two days after allegedly attacking Wilber Garcia at a residence in the 200 block of Western Avenue, near Latham Avenue.

Along with the murder count, Acevedo is charged with a sentence- enhancing allegation of using a knife in the commission of a felony.

He's being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta and was slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Banning Justice Center.

According to Hemet police Lt. Jeff Davis, the attack happened about 9 p.m. Friday, though the circumstances were unclear.

Davis said paramedics were sent to the Western Avenue location in response to reports of a man down and found Garcia in grave condition from a stab wound. The alleged assailant had fled, the lieutenant said.

The victim was taken to a trauma center, where he died less than an hour later.

Detectives initiated an investigation and, within 24 hours, Acevedo was identified as the alleged perpetrator, according to Davis. Nothing more was disclosed, including a possible motive.

The defendant was taken into custody without incident at a property on Sunburst Drive in Beaumont.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

— By City News Service