Fatal Stabbing Follows Neighbor Dispute Over “Doing Donuts in the Street”: LAPD

A 37-year-old man was fatally stabbed after a dispute with a neighbor over loud driving noises in the San Fernando Valley early Sunday morning, police said. 

Two people suspected of being involved in the stabbing, in the 8800 block of Beachy Avenue in Arleta, have not been arrested, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement. One is armed with a gun, the other with a knife, police said.

The man, identified as Edgar Barrientos, was stabbed in a brawl started when he confronted three people making loud noises with a car at about 4 a.m. Sunday, police said, citing a neighbor who apparently witnessed the assault and tried to intervene.

“One description was that someone was doing donuts in the street, screeching tires,” said Lt. Paul Vernon in a statement.

A silver Honda Accord that belongs to a 22-year-old neighbor of theirs was making loud noises on the street, prompting the victim and witness to step outside.

According to the police statement, the three people in the car began beating the stabbing victim, then the second neighbor, who retreated to his home. The victim was then stabbed.

The 22-year-old was detained for questioning, police said, but two others allegedly involved in the stabbing left the scene of the crime in the car, according to the statement.

“We have yet to identify the two outstanding suspects, apparently friends of the man we detained,” Vernon said in the statement.

Barrientos died at Holy Cross Hospital, police said.

"I'm glad he stood up for the neighborhood but I'm sorry he lost his life for it," said one neighbor.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 818-838-9954.

The City News Service contributed to this report. Refresh this page for updates on this developing story.

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