Suspect Sought in Tustin Slaying

Police are seeking the public’s help in finding a man suspected of bludgeoning his roommate to death early Monday morning and then attacking the victim’s brother, who also lived at the apartment.

Joel Munoz Marquez, 25, fled the Cordova Apartments, in the 14400 block of Newport Avenue, shortly before police arrived at 1:53 a.m. Officers found 21-year-old Ezequiel Velazquez Rosario dead at the scene. Tustin Police Lt. Frank Semelsberger said Marquez bludgeoned Rosario with a blunt object.

Shortly after the attack, Rosario’s brother arrived and encountered Marquez outside the apartment. Marquez asked him for a ride somewhere, Semelsberger said. When the brother refused, they went inside and began arguing.

“When they got inside, Marquez attacked him,” Semelsberger said.

The brother, whom police are not identifying, suffered a head injury and bruises. Another roommate was asleep during the attacks, Semelsberger said.

Marquez fled the apartment on foot, with no money and no wallet, said investigators who are trying to determine the motive for the killing.

“The suspect had owed money to the victim, but we don’t know if that triggered it,” Semelsberger said.

Marquez had moved into the apartment about six weeks ago, police said. He shared it with Rosario, Rosario’s brother and another set of brothers.

He is 5 feet 4 and weighs 130 pounds.

He had told friends that he was wanted for a murder in Mexico, police said. Investigators are trying to determine if that’s true.

Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of Marquez should contact Tustin Investigator Tom Tarpley at (714) 573-3247.