Suspects Arrested in Deadly Stabbing in Rose Bowl Parking Lot

PASADENA (CNS) - Two people were in custody today in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in a Rose Bowl parking lot, where police say the alleged killer and victim met to settle a social-media dispute. 

Miguel Castaneda, 23, of Los Angeles, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of carrying out the Monday night stabbing, while Valentina Rosales, 23, of Pasadena, is accused of being an accessory after the fact, according to Pasadena Police Department Lt. Jason Clawson. Rosales was arrested Wednesday, according to jail records. 

Castaneda was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, while Rosales was being held on $1 million bail. They are accused in the 10 p.m. Monday killing of 22-year-old Pasadena resident Demetrio Tapia Jr., who was stabbed in Lot K at the stadium.

``Detectives learned through the investigation that suspect Castaneda and victim Tapia had engaged in a verbal dispute via social media days before the incident,'' Clawson said.

``This dispute led to both suspect and victim agreeing to meet in parking lot K of the Rose Bowl to settle this dispute, where they engaged in a physical altercation with one another resulting in the stabbing death of victim Tapia,'' Clawson said. 

Castaneda was charged Wednesday with a single count of murder, while Rosales was charged with accessory after the fact, according to the District Attorney's Office. If convicted, Castaneda faces 27 years to life in prison, while Rosales is facing up to six years behind bars, prosecutors said. Both are due in court in Pasadena for arraignment on Oct. 29.


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