Boy, 16, Stabbed to Death Walking Home From Bar

A 16-year-old boy who worked as a farm laborer to earn money for his family in Mexico was stabbed to death early Monday as he walked home from a Santa Paula bar with his uncle and another man.

Salvador Perez Chavez of Santa Paula was pronounced dead at the scene in the 200 block of South Garcia Street, said Santa Paula Police Det. Ish Cordero.

His uncle, Luis Perez Gonzales, 22, and Juan Amezquita, 23, both of Santa Paula, also were attacked. They were treated for minor stab wounds at a local hospital and released.

Detectives believe robbery was the motive and that there were at least three attackers who ran off with an undetermined amount of cash.

“I was freaked out because that just doesn’t happen here,” said Veronica Hernandez, who lives across the street from where the teenager was killed. “People are always coming [down the street] from that bar, but no one ever hassles us.”

Authorities believe the victims left Ruben’s Lounge on nearby Harvard Boulevard and were walking toward Amezquita’s house about a block away when they were approached by the assailants.

One or more of the attackers demanded money and then stabbed all three victims before fleeing on foot, Cordero said. A search for the assailants continued Monday night.

Cordero also said detectives would investigate whether the underage victim had been drinking at the bar. If he was, authorities planned to alert state beverage officials.

Local businessman Ruben Pena, who once owned the bar and still holds its liquor license, denied that any minor was served alcohol there.

Authorities said Chavez was living with his uncle in Santa Paula and trying to earn money to send to his parents, who live in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Gonzales and Amezquita also work as farm laborers.

An autopsy performed Monday found Chavez died from stab wounds to the chest. Coroner’s officials said his body probably would be returned to Mexico for burial.

The incident was the city’s first homicide this year.

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Staff writer Holly J. Wolcott contributed to this report