Man gets 24 years to life in prison for El Sereno stabbings that left teen dead, another person hurt

ALHAMBRA, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was sentenced to 24 years to life in state prison on Tuesday in connection with two stabbings in 2023, including the killing of a 17-year-old high school student who was waiting for his mother outside an El Sereno restaurant, prosecutors said.

David Anthony Zapata, 35, on May 6 pleaded no contest to second-degree murder for the March 3, 2023 stabbing of Xavier Chavarin, a Woodrow Wilson High School student. Zapata entered the same plea for the attempted murder of Daniel Villalobos the same day, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

The attacks appeared to be random, and neither of the victims knew Zapata, who approached them seemingly for no reason, prosecutors said..



Five days after the stabbings, Zapata was arrested following an hourslong standoff with police at the home where he lived with family in the 2300 block of Westmont Drive in Alhambra.



Zapata was charged with fatally stabbing Xavier in the 4500 block of Valley Boulevard. Prosecutors said he stabbed Villalobos about five hours later in the 5400 block of Valley Boulevard. Villalobos survived the attack.

"Both incidents were completely unprovoked," LAPD Lt. Ryan Rabbett told reporters at the time. "These citizens were attacked for no apparent reason."

Zapata has remained behind bars since his arrest.



City News Service contributed to this report.