Man Fatally Stabbed After Beating Wife

A 28-year-old Van Nuys man who had beaten his wife and child was fatally stabbed minutes later by a housemate who tried to intervene, Los Angeles police said Saturday.

Jesus Jaime Cruz died about 8:30 p.m. Friday at 14535 Vose St., where he lived with several family members, Detective Stephen Fisk said. The incident began when Cruz started hitting his wife, Adriene Ibarra, 30, and their 10-year-old son.

When Jaime Hernandez, 47, a resident of the same location, tried to stop the beating, a fight started between Hernandez and Cruz. Jesus Salinas, 30, joined the fight to help Cruz, police said.

Hernandez left and went to a neighbor’s home to call police. When he returned, Cruz and Salinas began hitting him with wooden clubs outside the residence, Fisk said. Witnesses told police that Hernandez was struck several times before he pulled a knife and stabbed Cruz once in the chest and Salinas in the forehead.

Cruz, who had a history of spousal abuse, died at the scene, Fisk said.

Hernandez, who surrendered the knife and turned himself over to police, was not charged in the stabbing, Fisk said. Salinas was treated at a hospital and later taken into police custody.

Salinas was being held on suspicion of murder for his involvement in the altercation that resulted in Cruz’s death. The case is scheduled to be presented to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office Monday.