CANOGA PARK : Man Slain After Anonymous Call

A 31-year-old house painter from Canoga Park was stabbed to death after responding to an anonymous phone call from people saying they would vandalize his car if he did not come out to his front yard, police said Monday.

Vicente Corona was taken to West Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, Sgt. Brian Powell of the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Corona was at his house in the 7400 block of Alabama Avenue at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday when he received the call, Powell said. The caller told him to come to the front of his house or his car would be vandalized, Powell said.

When Corona did, he was confronted by four or five men armed with shotguns and knives. One of them stabbed Corona in the chest, and the group fled. Corona was taken to the hospital by friends, Powell said.

Earlier that evening, Corona had been at Chatsworth Park with friends and family members when they got into an argument with a group of men over a dispute that occurred years ago in Mexico, Powell said. The argument led to a fistfight between Corona and an unidentified man, Powell said.

It is believed that the same group is responsible for Corona’s death, Powell said. No one had been arrested by Monday afternoon, Powell said.