Man Accused of Tuesday's Fatal Stabbing Pleads Not Guilty

Updated at 6:10 p.m.

A 52-year-old transient accused of fatally stabbing a man in a restaurant parking lot in Oceanside pleaded not guilty today to murder and other charges and was ordered held in lieu of $5 million bail.

Bruce Eric Hunt allegedly got into an altercation with 33-year-old Sonny Mila and another man and began chasing them about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday outside the Flying Bridge restaurant after accusing them of making too much noise, according to Oceanside police Lt. Aaron Doyle.

A witness across the street interrupted the assault and pulled a pistol he is legally permitted to carry. He held Hunt at gunpoint until patrol officers arrived, according to the lieutenant.

The arriving officers found Mila suffering from multiple stab wounds, Doyle said. He died at the scene.

In addition to murder, Hunt is charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon and faces life in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Christine Ryan.

He will be back in court May 13 for a readiness conference and May 15 for a preliminary hearing.

—City News Service