SANTA MONICA – A homeless man was fatally stabbed near a Santa Monica park Friday morning, and the killer remained at large.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the man was found about 6:30 a.m. Friday in an alley near the 1100 block of Sixth Street, north of Wilshire Boulevard, about a block from Christine Emerson Reed Park.
He was later identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as Quincy Nunes, 37.
In a message to the community posted on the city’s website, Santa Monica Police Department Chief Ramón Batista wrote that the fatal stabbing and other recent “high-profile crimes” are “unrelated and have no known connection to any criminal networks or actors.”
“However, there is a critical factor that we must all acknowledge,” Batista wrote. “Many of these incidents share a common thread that we as a community have become increasingly aware: the intersection of homelessness, mental illness and drug use.
“This is not an easy topic to discuss, but it is important. Over the past several years, our region and city have undergone significant changes, bringing new challenges that we must address together. As a police department, we are committed to adapting and finding solutions to keep everyone in our community safe.”
Anyone with information on the fatal stabbing was urged to call 310- 458-8491.