The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Man stabbed to death at Palmdale family gathering, suspect arrested [update: victim ID’d]

by •

The victim and suspect were attending a family gathering at a residence in the 37600 block of Scomar Street in Palmdale. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
The victim and suspect were attending a family gathering at a residence in the 37600 block of Scomar Street in Palmdale. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
PALMDALE – A 28-year-old man was stabbed to death at a family gathering in Palmdale Saturday night, authorities said.

It happened just before 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the 37600 block of Scomar Street, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“The victim and suspect were both attending a family gathering at the residence,” the news release states. “They stepped outside and an argument ensued followed by a physical fight. During the struggle, the suspect produced a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times. The victim went back into the residence where family members called for emergency medical assistance.”

The 28-year-old victim, whose name has not yet been released, was transported to the hospital where he died of his injuries, sheriff’s officials said.

“The suspect, 29-year-old Angel Garcia, remained at the scene and was arrested by Palmdale Station personnel,” the sheriff’s news release states.

Garcia was booked on suspicion of murder at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station; he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to LASD inmate records.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

–

UPDATE: The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Daniel Rojas of Palmdale, according to coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

UPDATED 10.23.15: Loved ones have created an online fundraiser for the three children Daniel Rojas left behind.

“Danny was the only provider for his family. He was a hard, honest worker and was always focused on taking care of his wife and kids,” the fundraising page states. “All of the money raised will be donated directly to Danny’s children. It will be used to pay for their everyday needs, their health care, necessities and education.”

To donate to this effort, visit https://www.gofundme.com/uq6vucac.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

26 comments for "Man stabbed to death at Palmdale family gathering, suspect arrested [update: victim ID’d]"

  1. Not sure how to begin or what to say because I am a distant member of the family and havent really been around much since I enlisted into the army. I only learned of this tragedy today from my mom Teresa, promting my reaction to research this some more. I am so sorry aunt, his wife and his children. May he rest in peace and my my family find comfort.

  2. I love u tia….im so sorry …..may he rest in peace…
    Hopefully they punish this man to the fullest extent of the law…that was primo….u [removed[…what were u thinking…he was a good man and very responsible person….

  4. I worked with him since he was 20 years old,he loved his family his kids and was a good father and a good person,he “was not” some drunk mexican,he was a great guy who had so much going for him and lost his life bc of this sick murdering P.O.S,so before you judge him look at the messed up crap you say and what kinda person you are.

  5. Bottom line: This human garbage murdered a man with a knife in a fist fight. He did it with the victim’s children, wife and mother not 50 feet away inside the house. He wasn’t invited and with good reason. There is no excuse for the kind of violence that ends another life unless you’re defending a life. The murderer is a terrible human being who deserves nothing more than to be tied up and locked in a room with the family he has deprived of a son/father/husband/friend/brother and let them forgive him if they want. I know the family and they are good people that certainly didn’t deserve this. I would hope they’d send this bag of dung to meet his maker but they are good people so who knows.

    And to the idiots with the drunk Mexican comments and the like: What is wrong with you? It doesn’t matter if they’re just some strangers on the internet. Imagine looking at your own mothers face after one of your family members had just been killed in whatever manner you find most appropriate since I’m sure your family would NEVER be in a situation like this. What would you want to do to someone that made a callous and disgusting comment about a person they didn’t know? Maybe they should tie you up and throw you into the same room as the coward that did this. Coward.

    Friend

  6. I truly dislike having alcohol at any gathering, it makes for stupidity, and in some way someone always gets hurt.
    I have seen Vodka take the varnish off of an Oak table, turned the table top white. What do you think that does to your mind and body?

    • What would a Lancaster event be without booze? Celebrate America? Booze! Streets of Lancaster? Booze! AV Fair? More booze! Field of Booze? Booze, booze, BOOZE!

          • When some alcoholics become sober, they actually alter their very way being and become clear thinking persons.

            Others stop the drinking but just keep the same behaviors channeled into other destructive ways.

            Now, which category do ya think he fits into? Or ‘W’ for that matter? Both are likely the same A wholes that they were when they drank……if not worse.

  7. I’M SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR THIS…CAN’T BLAME ANYONE FOR NOT STEPPING IN BECAUSE MANY TIMES THE INNOCENT BECOME A VICTIM. ..MY PRAYERS TO THIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS…I APPEARS THE PERSON IS TAKING RESPOSSIBILTY FOR HIS ACTIONS BY STAYING AND NOT FLEEING …. WE NEED TO HEAR HIS SIDE OF THIS SAD ACCIDENT OF AFFAIRS….LET US PRAY FOR ALL….PEACE

  8. lets get this straight so all the negative disrespectful comments can stop!! The murderer was not invited or welcomed to the house!!!! Nor did he ever get to the house! He was a few houses up!!!! This was no drunk fight!!! And he was related to one of our family members!!! He went way to far to take a man who had 3 kids and a wife.

  10. Who knows what really happened, we can probably rule out self defense trusting the preliminary evidence got him arrested. Not guilty until tried in a court of law by a jury of his peers. Prayers to the family of the diseased

  12. Confused! If this was a family gathering, then where was the family members when these two dummies started fighting? If someone actually tried to step in or even make a call to the Sheriff… It could have been prevented. Lay off the alcohol….lookslike it could’ve an issue.
    One less [removed]

    • Fed Up, you were not there. You are blaming people for not intervening in the fight..? how do you know this.? Are you some sort of fortune teller with a magic ball…? or where you a fly on the wall and saw the whole thing evolve before your eyes..? C’mon man think before you speak. The article doesn’t even give you a time line. Peace…!

      • They obviously let them duke it out and let it escalate. Its pretty obvious if they cared a lot of the men in the family would have stepped in. Probably a bunch of drunk Mexicans.

        • @Palmdaleguy

          You may wish to consider that these are REAL people with family and friends who loved them before you dismiss them as ‘drunk Mexicans’.

          Your comments may be seen by these REAL people -not screen names- who knew those involved and may see your comments as heaping more pain on an already intolerable circumstance.

    • Good thinking…call the sheriff’s so not only both participants in the fight could be shot to death, but the family dog besides.

      • The guy is dead and the other for sure facing a good part of life in prison. Lol people say the most beautiful words when the horrible things happen.

    • Stupid [removed] people drunk people, they don’t know how to control their self’s, i know everything that it happens of the family situation, that guy was protecting him self.

      • How can that be self defense if the victim didnt even have the knife.The suspect mostlikely could not take the ass kicking he got So like a lil b. Took out a knife