Man Who Was Stabbed in Eye Declared Dead

A Panorama City man was declared dead Monday of stab wounds he received during a street robbery last week, Los Angeles police said.

Servando Benitez, 21, was taken off life-support machines at County-USC Medical Center, Lt. Harvie Eubank said. Benitez was stabbed in the eye with a screwdriver, suffering a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage, while crossing the intersection of Nordhoff Street and Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City on Thursday.

Police said Benitez and two companions were attacked by Michael Story, 19, who was attempting to steal a gold chain from one of the men. Story was being held at the Van Nuys Jail without bail on suspicion of murder.