A suspect in the stabbing death of a taxi driver was arrested Sunday near the scene of the crime in downtown Los Angeles.
Daniel Victor Torres, 32, was taken into custody around 1 p.m. Sunday in the 500 block of North Main Street, the LAPD said. Patrol officers saw Torres, who fit the suspect description, and stopped him for questioning, the department said.
Torres was subsequently interviewed by homicide detectives, who determined he was responsible for the killing of taxi driver Oganes Papazyan, of Burbank, police said.
The 68-year-old taxi driver was stabbed Friday near a fast-food restaurant in downtown Los Angeles after picking up Torres at Union Station, according to the department. The passenger told the driver to park near 700 W. Cesar Chavez St., then attacked him, police said.
Torres allegedly tried to drive away in the taxi, but could not find the key fob.
"Brutal stabbing, the most brutal act I've ever seen,'' witness Michael Bullard told NBCLA. "The guy knocked him (Papazyan) down and stabbed him right in front of me. (The suspect) went back into the car, looked for some money or something, went to reverse the car, he was going to run the guy over, then took off running."
Officers responded to a fire department call for backup near a Burger King restaurant at Grand and Cesar E. Chavez avenues, where a crowd had gathered, according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison.
News
Top news of the day
Papazyan died at the scene. An autopsy was pending, coroner's officials said.
Torres was booked for Papazyans' murder and was being held on $2 million bail, according to police. His arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday.
