A man who tried to intervene in a dispute at a homeless encampment in the Brentwood area Wednesday morning was fatally stabbed, and a suspect has been detained, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
The incident was reported about 6:40 a.m. in the 11600 block of San Vicente Boulevard. The area is right at the border of Sawtelle and Santa Monica.
Responding deputies found the victim with a stab wound to the torso. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. He has not been identified.
A preliminary investigation indicated the assailant was involved in a dispute with his girlfriend when the victim intervened and was stabbed, officials said in an updated news release.
The unidentified suspect was detained at the scene and taken to a hospital for a medical clearance for booking.
No weapon has been recovered from the scene and the woman involved in the initial dispute was not injured, authorities said.
“The incident solely involves the transient population surrounding the location,” the Sheriff’s Department said in the news release.
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said the stabbing took place at the Veteran’s Row homeless encampment.
During a news conference near the scene Wednesday, the mayoral candidate called for the closure of the homeless encampment.
“It is time for there to be action, it is time for this encampment to end, for its residents to be housed, for the sidewalk to be cleared,” Feuer said. “No one should live this way particularly when just on the other side of the fence there is shelter.”
He indicated there had been another stabbing at the encampment six months ago and he called the area “dangerous.”
No further details about the incident have been released, and anyone with additional information can call the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.