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Santa Monica Authorities File Attempted Murder Charge In Teen Stabbing Case

Courtesy Photo

A 19-year-old was stabbed in Downtown Santa Monica on Monday, Aug. 13 at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and 4th Street.

Posted Feb. 21, 2013, 5:11 pm

Brenton Garen / Editor-in-Chief

A 39-year-old man from Sonora, Mexico has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a 19-year-old teenager near the Third Street Promenade on Aug. 13, 2012.

Francisco Leon-Urbalexo is suspected of randomly stabbing the male teen at 6:20 pm, minutes after the victim and his girlfriend had left a restaurant in the 300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard and were walking eastbound towards 4^th Street.

The victim was hospitalized with moderate injuries and the suspect fled the crime scene.

During the subsequent investigation, SMPD Sgt. Richard Lewis said the suspect was identified by DNA through evidence left at the crime scene.  

“Shortly after the crime, Leon-Urbalexo traveled to Yuma, Arizona, was detained and later arrested by authorities for illegal entry into the United States,” Lewis said. “He is currently in the custody of the United States Marshall, serving a 10 month sentence.”

Investigators from Santa Monica presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, who filed charges of attempted murder, hate crime, and assault with a deadly weapon.  

Lewis said Leon-Urbalexo will be extradited to Santa Monica to be arraigned on the above charges after he completes his sentence with the U.S. Marshall.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Chad Goodwin at 310.458.8942 or Sergeant Ira Rutan at 310.458.8959 or the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at 310.458.8495.