Gang Member Killed During Confrontation

A self-professed gang member was stabbed to death after he attacked two men, seriously injuring one with a kitchen knife, according to Los Angeles police.

The alleged attacker, Eddie Martin Pena, 23, was found bleeding from stab wounds at an apartment complex at the corner of Willowcrest Avenue and Oxnard Street early Thursday. He was apparently stabbed by a 16-year-old boy who had come to his cousin’s defense, police said.

Police declined to identify Pena’s alleged victims for fear of gang retaliation.

Witnesses told police that Pena began to confront residents at the apartment complex after he threw a stone through a nearby car window. Pena walked up to an 18-year-old resident of the apartment complex, identified himself as a gang member and asked the other young man where he was from, said LAPD Det. Mike Coffey.

Pena punched the 18-year-old twice before the teenager struck back, knocking Pena to the ground and then walking away, Coffey said.

“But Pena continued to verbally threaten other persons in the apartment complex and at some point he armed himself with a kitchen knife and attacked a 19-year-old,” Coffey said.

Pena slashed the 19-year-old’s face, neck and arms and stabbed him in the back, severely wounding him, police said.

During the struggle, the victim’s 16-year-old cousin came to his defense, stabbing Pena several times in the chest and back, Coffey said. Mortally wounded, Pena ran 40 feet before collapsing at the doorstep of a nearby apartment.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old victim and his cousin ran to another apartment in the complex.

Responding officers found Pena bleeding and followed a blood trail to the apartment where the victim and his young cousin were trying to treat the 19-year-old’s wounds.

He was rushed to a local hospital where he underwent surgery Thursday morning and was listed in serious condition.

Pena was taken by ambulance to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he was later pronounced dead.

The 16-year-old cousin of the victim was questioned by police and released to his parents pending final review by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

He was not identified because he is a juvenile.

Homicide detectives were investigating the incident.