Police Investigate Weekend Stabbings That Left 1 Dead

Los Angeles police are investigating two apparently unrelated stabbings that occurred in Mission Hills and Canoga Park over the weekend. A 16-year-old male was killed in the Mission Hills incident.

Omar Neppumuceno of Panorama City was fatally stabbed during a dispute Saturday night in the 14600 block of San Fernando Mission Boulevard, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office reported.

Officer Eduardo Funes said police were called to the residence at 11:30 p.m. because of a quarrel that possibly involved a gun. By the time officers arrived, the fight was over and Neppumuceno had been taken to a hospital, Funes said.

Investigators do not know the nature of the dispute or the number of people involved, he said.

Neppumuceno was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, according to coroner’s officials.

Police did not have a suspect and no motive was known, Funes said.

The second incident occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday when a fight broke out at a party in the 7400 block of Milwood Avenue in Canoga Park.

Luis Serrano, 21, of Canoga Park was stabbed several times. On Sunday afternoon, he was listed in critical condition at a local hospital, said LAPD Det. Jary Quinones.

“It started in the backyard at the party and ended up in front of the residence,” Quinones said. “I guess you could call it one continuous dispute. It just broke out and everyone started fighting.”

In addition to Serrano, five others were injured, but none of them suffered life-threatening wounds, Quinones said.

Detectives believe that the fight may have been triggered when alleged gang members crashed the party, Quinones said. “I would not call this necessarily a gang fight.”

Police detained 30 party-goers for questioning. No arrests were made on Sunday.