Man, 18, Accused In Fatal Monterey Park Stabbing

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An 18-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday to the murder of a stranger in a Monterey Park parking lot, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

Angel Octavion Garcia, of South San Gabriel, faces a single count of murder in the Oct. 14 fatal stabbing of 35-year-old Edward Mendoza.

There are no indications the two men knew each other, Deputy District Attorney Kenneth Meyer said.

After the assault, Mendoza called 911 and said he had been stabbed, and police found him bleeding at the parking lot, prosecutors said. Mendoza was taken County-USC Medical Center, where he died.

Garcia was arrested eight days after the killing after an unidentified person came forward to police and identified him as the assailant, prosecutors said.

Garcia is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to return to court Jan. 9 for a preliminary hearing. If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison, Meyer said.