Police Seek Man Who Fixed Nets in Guard’s Slaying

San Diego police said Thursday they are looking for a man who mended fishing nets as a suspect in the killing of a 69-year-old night watchman who was found stabbed to death early Sunday morning aboard a tuna boat at the G Street Pier. The body of Joseph Ferreira Fernandes, a retired commercial fisherman, was found aboard the seiner Sea Quest by a morning watchman.

Some passers-by who were near the boat about 10:30 p.m. Saturday have told police that they heard a scream and saw two men struggling on the vessel, said Police Lt. Paul Ybarrondo. They told police they saw one man go down and another man drop on top of him.

Ybarrondo said the witnesses described the suspect as a Latino man in his 20s with dark, collar-length hair cut in a page-boy style in the front. The man is said to weigh 150 to 180 pounds and stand 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

“This fits the description of a man seen sleeping on one of the boats,” Ybarrondo said.

The man, who police believe is from Mexico, has not been seen since Saturday night.

Police are still looking for Fernandes’ car, which was missing from the pier. Police have said whoever killed Fernandes may have taken the car. The car is a 1984 white Nissan 200-SX with blue interior and license plate number 1KTE406.

Fernandes worked aboard the Sea Quest, which is owned by Manuel Silva of San Diego. Fernandes was found at the port-side bulkhead in a fish storage area, hidden beneath plastic sheathing and ship equipment.