Stabbing Suspect Turns Himself In
A 25-year-old Spring Valley man, sought for his alleged involvement in the stabbing death of another man, has turned himself in to police, authorities said Tuesday.
Michael Christopher Gardiner is being held at County Jail downtown without bail until his arraignment Thursday. He is suspected of killing Martin Elias Lopez “in what may have been self-defense,” said San Diego Police Lt. Dan Berglund.
Elias, 26, of San Diego, was found stabbed in the chest about 2:10 a.m. Monday in the 4000 block of Mississippi Street in North Park, Berglund said.
According to Gardiner and his companion, Elias had been following them on Lincoln Avenue and was acting strangely, setting off car alarms and vandalizing vehicles, Berglund said.
Elias reportedly hit Gardiner for no apparent reason in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue, and Gardiner retaliated by pulling out his pocketknife and stabbing the victim, Berglund said.
When Elias realized that he had been injured, he ran off and collapsed on Mississippi Street, Berglund said.
Gardiner may be released before his arraignment if the district attorney’s office decides the assault was in self-defense, Berglund said.
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