Police responded to the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue at 12:15 a.m. A homeless man flagged down an officer after discovering the unconscious man face down in the middle of the pavement, a few feet from the sand.
Authorities initially thought the man was inebriated. When they flipped him on his back, police discovered the man was suffering from stab wounds.
Officers attempted to administer CPR to no avail. Guillermo Perez, 24, of Venice was pronounced dead at the UCLA Westwood Medical Center in Westwood.
Jimmy Goehring says Perez is his coworker at Mercede's Grille, located a block away from the scene.
"All the preliminary reports coming in from the various people I've talked to are leading me to believe that it's one particular person," said Goehring. "It doesn't feel good. I'm a little anxious and nervous, I can't believe this is happening to such a great guy."
Goehring says Perez was a chef's aid and left the restaurant Sunday night with his own knives and utensils. It remains unclear if the man was stabbed with his own cutlery.
The victim was on his way to his second job, Baja Cantina, when he was stabbed.
Coworkers and friends at Mercede's Grille and Baja Cantina say Perez was a life lost far too soon.
"He was a very good guy, a very hard worker, a good father, just a good person," said Baja Cantina manager Christopher Billot.
Perez is survived by his wife and their newborn infant. The owner at Mercedes Grille has set up a fund and is raising money to help the family.
"He's got a wife and family that he's leaving behind, which is really sad," said Mercedes Ahrablou, owner of Mercedes restaurant.
The motive for the attack remains unknown. Police are asking for the public's help to solve the fatal stabbing that left the 24-year-old father dead.
Citizens and businesses located near the scene are urged to contact authorities if they have any information pertaining to the investigation.
Anyone with information on the incident was urged to contact LAPD West Bureau Homicide Detectives Dave Vinton or George Bowens at (213) 382-9470.
