Authorities sought Friday to identify and track down a man who fatally assaulted another man this week at a La Mesa transit depot.
Patrol officers responding to a report of an injured person at 70th Street Trolley Station found the 47-year-old victim suffering from an apparent stab wound to the chest about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, according to the La Mesa Police Department.
Paramedics took the man to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, where he was pronounced dead, Lt. Katy Lynch said. His name was withheld pending family notification.
Detectives have determined that the two men got into a fight at the transit station just south of Interstate 8 prior to the fatal assault, Lynch said. The reason for the dispute remained unclear Friday afternoon.
The assailant was described as a man in his late 20s or early 30s with a dark complexion. At the time of the slaying, he was wearing dark-colored blue jeans, a light-blue Chargers-logo baseball cap and a white T-shirt with black artwork on it underneath a blue short-sleeve button-up shirt with a floral pattern. He was carrying a skateboard, and at one point during the encounter had a red mask covering his nose and mouth.
“The relationship between the suspect and the victim is unknown, but investigators do not believe this was a random act of violence,” the lieutenant said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or contact the agency online at sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000
