LOS ANGELES — A 19-year-old man has been charged with fatally stabbing a good Samaritan who attempted to detain him for violating a domestic violence restraining order.
Edson Eduardo Rufino, of Signal Hill faces one felony count of murder, two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a knife, as well as one misdemeanor count each of contempt of court and resisting arrest.
Rufino pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Rufino was allegedly in violation of a restraining order when visiting his girlfriend on April 2 at her mother’s home, prosecutors said. When the mother called police, Rufino reportedly threatened the girlfriend’s brother and another visitor to the home with a knife, prosecutors added.
Rufino fled into another home where Leandro Maza allegedly helped to try to keep him detained as they waited for police. The defendant reportedly pushed his way out of the home and fatally stabbed Maza, 31, prosecutors said.
Read the police report HERE.
If convicted as charged, Rufino faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison. Bail is set at $2 million.
