Man, 48, Fatally Wounded In Pasadena Stabbing

PASADENA (CBSLA) - A 48-year-old man was stabbed and fatally wounded Friday in Pasadena and the search for the suspect prompted the lockdown of a nearby school and an order for area residents to shelter in place.

The victim was stabbed about 9:05 a.m. in front of an apartment building in the 100 block of South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.

The victim was transported in critical condition.

Friday evening, the victim was identified as Byron Nettles. He was declared dead after arriving at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena.

Witnesses said the suspect fought with Nettles, the victim got away but the suspect caught up to him, pulled out a switchblade and stabbed the suspect as many as four times.

A search for the suspect was underway in the area from Green Street and California Boulevard to Los Robles Avenue and Marengo Avenue, according to the city.

Police say the suspect was described as a black man with a large build, who was seen wearing a green trench coat.

On Friday evening, KCAL9's Greg Mills spoke with T'Shawn Demethris, Nettles' widow.

"He was a good person and a great father," she said.

T'Shawn and Byron were married 22 years ago on Valentine's Day.

She told Mills the hospital did everything they could.

"He didn't make it," she said, "he didn't make it. They tried. They were the best."

Her husband had been in charge at a permanent housing facility overseeing those maintaining their sobriety and needing housing for their families.

"He was just so helpful to everybody," she says of her now late husband.

Residents told Mills that Nettles was the kind that if they needed a few extra bucks he gave it to them. If they had problems, he'd help solve them. "A wonderful man," one woman said.

"He tried to help everybody," says T'Shawn. "Sometimes you just can't do that."

A witness, Elizabeth Jacobs, told Mills that Nettle's wanting to help everyone might have led to his death.

The suspect was waiting for Nettles in the lobby.

"He dealt with him [the suspect] before. They were talking about the guy's wife and he [Nettles] said I can't help her, she's a drug addict. I don't have the power to help her."

That's when she said the man punched Nettles.