Investigators said Joe Calderon got into a fight with his grandparents Saturday night at the home they share in Mission Hills. On Sunday morning, Calderon's grandfather left for work and the fight resumed with his grandmother, identified by friends as Maria Calderon.
Police said the grandmother called her daughter, saying the grandson was hitting her. When the daughter arrived at the house, the bloody suspect confronted her with a long metal stick. She left and called 911.
"He had blood on his hands," said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon. "Officers went into the house and found the grandmother in her 70s lying in the kitchen area apparently stabbed."
Officers said they noticed a long barbecue fork near the body, as well as other possible edged weapons.
"The fork appeared to have blood on the prongs," Vernon said in an LAPD statement. "But we'll have to examine it forensically to know for sure."
According to friends, Calderon was involved with drugs. Authorities are investigating if that may have played a part in the apparent murder.
Calderon was booked for murder and his bail was set at $1 million.
Neighbors described the grandmother as a neighbor who was friendly with everyone on the block and helped others.
