Teen Sought in Fatal Stabbing of Uncle

VAN NUYS — Authorities searched for a 16-year-old Van Nuys boy Monday who allegedly stabbed his uncle to death during an argument, police said.

Jose Luis Rodriguez had lived with his uncle, Alvaro Montenegro, 36, at an apartment complex in the 14600 block of Calvert Street in Van Nuys for about two months, police said.

“We know he [Rodriguez] is somewhere in the city,” said LAPD homicide Det. Al Aldaz . “He has no place to go.”

Montenegro tried to counsel the youth about 1:30 a.m. Sunday about drinking, Aldaz said. The two then fought, and Rodriguez stabbed his uncle in the upper torso with a kitchen knife, Aldaz said. Montenegro died at a hospital.

Officers used dogs to trace Rodriguez’s path to St. Elizabeth Church, about two blocks from the scene, police said. Aldaz believes a churchgoer might have picked up Rodriguez without knowing he could be dangerous.

“There was an early morning Spanish Mass, and we are afraid somebody may have given Rodriguez a ride without knowing he is wanted for murder,” Aldaz said.

The victim’s widow, Marisa Mendoza, appeared on television Monday and pleaded with her nephew to surrender.

Police said Montenegro welcomed Rodriguez into his home about two months ago from Mexico and got him a job at a fast-food restaurant where he worked as an assistant manager.

Montenegro had been living in Los Angeles for about 20 years and is survived by his wife, Marisa, and three children, ages 17, 15 and 3, police said.