A 19-year-old Beverly Hills resident has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a homeless man during an altercation in an alleyway.
The suspect, identified as Conoray Lawantara, was arrested after police responded to reports of a fight between two men at about 11:39 p.m. on Sunday in an alley on North Palm Drive.
Officers reportedly found the homeless man with a serious stab wound to his neck. He was treated at the scene and rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Lawantara was also taken to the hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries during the incident.
Videos recorded shortly after the altercation showed the teenager sitting on the ground in handcuffs while speaking with police.
“He reached for me and at that time I produced a concealed carry weapon — it’s a 3.9-inch knife,” Lawantara was heard telling officers.
He claimed the man had been pulling at him and continued going after him despite his attempts to get away.
However, neighbours reportedly alleged that the homeless man had been searching through trash cans in the alley before Lawantara confronted him and the confrontation turned violent.