Victim in fatal stabbing outside Downey library is identified

DOWNEY — Authorities Monday released the name of a 68-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in front of the Downey Library, where someone unrelated to the violence stole the responding paramedics' ambulance.

The stabbing occurred about 9:35 a.m. Saturday in front of the library at 11121 Brookshire Ave., according to Downey Police Department Lt. Dustin Doyle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was identified as Reinaldo Lefonts of Downey, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office, which listed his cause of death as multiple sharp force injuries and the manner as homicide.

The suspect, a 23-year-old man believed to be a transient, was taken into custody at Downey High School, Doyle said.

"While emergency personnel were tending to the victim at the library, a male suspect, unrelated to the homicide investigation, stole a Downey Fire Department ambulance that was parked at the homicide scene," he said.

Downey officers chased the ambulance to the city of Alhambra, where the suspect crashed into a parked vehicle, Doyle said.

That suspect was a 52-year-old man who lives in Los Angeles, he said.

Both cases were under investigation, Doyle said.

Anyone with information about the stabbing was asked to contact Detective. J. Estrada at 562-904-2332 or jestrada@downeyca.org or Crime Stoppers at 800- 222-8477.