Police identify man killed in Redwood Village stabbing

San Diego police on Monday identified a man who was stabbed to death last week in a gas station parking lot.

Damien Garcia, 33, was stabbed at least once in his torso around 1:15 p.m. at a gas station on University Avenue near College Avenue in Redwood Village, Lt. Jud Campbell said in a news release.

Garcia ran up on another 33-year-old man who was filling his car with gas to argue with him, Campbell said. Detectives said the two knew each other because the man had previously dated Garcia’s current girlfriend.

The argument turned physical when Garcia punched the other man, and they began fighting in the parking lot.

“At one point, the victim slammed the suspect to the ground and got on top of him, punching him multiple times,” Campbell said. “The suspect then stabbed the victim with a knife.”

The two men then separated, Campbell said. Garcia walked over to the gas station teller and sat down while the stabbing suspect stayed by his car.

When officers arrived, they found Garcia in the parking lot. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

The other man stayed at the scene waiting for police. He had injuries to his head that were believed to be not life-threatening, police said.

The man was detained and released pending the investigation.

Investigators asked anyone with information about the stabbing to call the homicide unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.