UPDATE NO. 4, MARCH 9, 7:37 A.M.: Juan Angel Rivera had a hearing Tuesday on a felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife, but his arraignment was continued to March 25.. The 21-year-old Santa Ana resident could get 26 years to life in state prison if convicted, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Rivera’s bail is $1 million. He is accused of stabbing 23-year-old Nathan Alfaro many times at Underground DTSA and then leaving with several other people . The investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE NO. 3, MARCH 4, 3:50 P.M.: An arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing of Nathan Joe Alfaro. Suspected of murder is Juan Angel Rivera, 21, of Santa Ana, according to Santa Ana Police Department spokesman Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. No booking photo is being released at this time.
UPDATE NO. 2, MARCH 4, 12:50 P.M.: The victim was Nathan Joe Alfaro, 23, of Westminster, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.
UPDATE NO. 1, MARCH 4, 9:28 A.M.: The victim of Thursday night’s fatal stabbing still has not been identified pending notification of next of kin, but he is a 23-year-old Latino, according to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. The agency’s spokesman also clarified that the victim was inside the club listening to the music when a fight broke out and he was stabbed in the upper part of his body. The victim then staggered outside and collapsed on the street, according to Bertagna, who described the killer as male, Hispanic, in his 20s, 5-foot-6 and wearing a black shirt. He fled on foot in an unknown direction, Bertagna said. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries. Besides the police contact number given in the original post, anyone who has information that can help homicide detectives can call them at 714.245.8390. Anonymous tips can be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855.847.6227 (855-TIP-OCCS), via occrimestoppers.org or by texting to 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) from a cell phone. (All text messages should begin with the letters “OCCS”.)
Click here for my colleague Nate Jackson’s report from inside the club last night.
ORIGINAL POST, MARCH 4, 7:59 A.M.: A man in his 20s was fatally stabbed Thursday night outside inside Underground DTSA, according to Santa Ana Police.
The second of five scheduled punk bands was performing when the stabbing happened just after 10:30 p.m. near in the venue at 220 Third St., according to police and witnesses who say the show was then stopped.
“There was some kind of altercation or fight inside the venue and a man in his 20s was stabbed in his chest,” Santa Ana Police Sgt. Michelle Miller told City News Service.
He later died at UCI Medical Center in Orange. The coroner has not yet released his name pending notification of next of kin.
According to Miller, her agency has a suspect description that is not being released at this time. Anyone with information that can help investigators should call the Santa Ana Police Department at 714.245.8701, even anonymously.
