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Police Arrest Two in Lompoc's First Slaying of Year |
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By Rob Kuznia
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Tuesday, April 17 2007 |
Police on Monday released the name of a man who was apparently slain in broad daylight in the middle of a Lompoc residential street over the weekend.
Around 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Chad Michael Stefancich, 21, of Oceano, was found lying on the roadway in the 700 block of North F Street, bleeding of multiple stab wounds. He died that evening in the hospital.
Police have arrested two 17-year-old males in connection with the stabbing, and said they want to hear from witnesses who may have seen or heard the confrontation. They haven’t released the names of the suspects because they are minors, but did say they are Lompoc residents. Both are being charged with murder, authorities said. Lompoc police said more suspects could be on the loose.
It hasn’t been determined if they'll be charged as adults, said Sgt. Deanna Clement, spokeswoman for the Lompoc Police Department. They are being held at a juvenile hall facility in Santa Maria, and police are trying to determine if the killing was gang-related, she said.
One of the suspects is the same person sought by police in connection with another recent stabbing, Sgt. Clement said. On Easter Sunday, a minor was found stabbed in the abdomen in the area of Pine Avenue and F Street.
The injured teenager underwent surgery for his stab wounds, and as of Tuesday was still in the hospital, Sgt. Clement said. She declined to divulge his condition – such as whether his injuries appear to be life-threatening -- citing privacy laws.
In connection with the April 8 stabbing, the teen is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon and for participation in a criminal street gang, authorities said.
The homicide case is the first of the year in Lompoc. Last year, the city had one homicide, Sgt. Clement said.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Lompoc Police Department at (805) 736-2341 or Crime Stoppers hotline at (877) 800-9100. |
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