Costa Mesa Man Arrested For Attempted Homicide In Love Triangle Machete Attack

COSTA MESA (CBS) — Rogelio Nava-Rivera, 39, was arrested for attempted homicide after he allegedly attacked his girlfriend's estranged husband with a machete.

Police say Juan Manuel Franco, 40, recently separated from his wife and believed she was involved in a dating relationship with Nava-Rivera.

Franco had previously confronted Nava-Rivera about the alleged relationship. The result was a physical altercation between the men, both residents of Costa Mesa.

According to the Costa Mesa PD, Franco and Mava-Rivera spotted each other driving Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Fairview Road and Baker Street. The men pulled their vehicles into a parking lot at the Chevron gas station located at 3000 Fairview Rd.

Nava-Rivera reportedly exited his vehicle and began striking Franco's vehicle with a machete, smashing the rear driver's side window. Nava-Rivera then allegedly opened Franco's driver door and began to strike him with the weapon.

Franco suffered a broken left arm and several deep lacerations. He also sustained a deep laceration to his leg as he attempted to kick at Nava-Rivera, according to police.

Nava-Rivera ran to his vehicle following the attack and fled north on Fairview. Franco was transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana.

Thursday around 11 a.m. police located Nava-Rivera and took him into custody.

Detectives recovered a two-foot machete from the suspect's vehicle.