5 Members of Gang Held in Fatal Stabbing

Five members of a Placentia gang have been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Fullerton gang member during a brawl Thursday afternoon, police said Friday.

Ricky Michaels, 18, of Placentia was stabbed several times in the chest during the fight which broke out about 4:45 p.m. in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 3100 block of Pearl Drive, said Sgt. Danny Becerra.

Arrested at their homes in Placentia late Thursday night and Friday afternoon were: Rene Ramon Castro, 26, Johnny Richard Martinez, 18, Jose Luis Villanueva, 19, Trinidad Villanueva, 24, and a 17-year-old male.

The adults were arrested without incident and taken to Fullerton city jail. The 17-year-old was taken to Orange County Juvenile Hall. All are being held on suspicion of murder.

Words had been exchanged between the two gangs at the apartment complex earlier in the day, police said. The Placentia gang left but returned and began a fistfight a short time later. Three people were stabbed during the fight.

Michaels died about 45 minutes after being taken to the hospital. Charles Ernest Matthews, 20, of Placentia and a 17-year-old male from Anaheim were stabbed in the torso, but their injuries are not life-threatening. All are admitted gang members, Becerra said.

“These particular street gangs have not demonstrated hostility toward each other in the past,” Becerra said. “They all seemed to get along because they live in the same area.”