ORANGE : Slaying Suspect May Be Fleeing to Mexico

A Mexican native suspected of stabbing to death an acquaintance in front of a restaurant Thursday night may be heading toward his homeland with his pregnant 17-year-old girlfriend, police said Friday.

Arturo Vega Rosas, 23, of Orange is wanted in connection with the knifing of Pedro Rosas Hernandez, 24, also of Orange, said Sgt. Bob Gustafson.

Rosas was pronounced dead at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana an hour after the 9:34 p.m. stabbing. He was taken to the hospital after police found him in the rear parking lot of Claudia’s restaurant suffering from multiple stab wounds.

The attack began when Rosas, sitting in the Mexican-food restaurant, was approached by three Latino men, one of whom was identified as Vega, police said. Rosas and Vega walked outside and began to argue.

Vega then allegedly pulled out a large knife and began stabbing Rosas, Gustafson said.

Vega and his two companions then fled as Rosas made his way to the back of the restaurant and collapsed in the parking lot. Police later found a knife believed to have been used in the attack.

Acting on tips by witnesses, police said they believe Vega and his girlfriend may be trying to escape to Mexico, where he has relatives, Gustafson said. He declined to identify the teen-age girl because of her age.

Vega was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds, with black eyes and black hair worn shoulder length in the back, and a light-colored mustache. Vega was wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and multicolored shorts, Gustafson said.