GREENFIELD—Authorities with the Greenfield Police Department arrested Joaquin Garcia Soto, 32, of Greenfield, on homicide charges for the death of Israel Santos Ramirez, 20, also from Greenfield.

At about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday evening, Soto went to the victim’s apartment complex at 836 Oak Ave.  He forced entry into Ramirez’s apartment where a struggle ensued and Soto took out a knife. Ramirez was also able to get a hold of a knife. “Ramirez was sitting on his couch when Soto entered the apartment and some sort of altercation occurred.” Greenfield Police Chief Eric Sills said.

Joaquin Garcia Soto

When police arrived they found Ramirez on the second floor of the complex with several stab wounds to the chest.  Witnesses stated that they saw Soto, who was also bleeding, run from the apartment complex. Authorities with the Greenfield Police found Soto inside a home on the other side of town still bleeding from his wounds.  He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his wounds.

“County dispatch received a call that a person that appeared to have been in a knife fight was trying to get into a house on the other side of town,” Chief Sills said, “When the officers responded to the home they concluded that he was the suspect in the stabbing on Oak Ave.” After the altercation Ramirez had moved to the hallway and collapsed from his wounds.  Emergency personnel pronounced Ramirez dead at the scene a short time later.

The homicide was not gang-related. Neither the suspect nor the victim were associated with any gangs.  A motive has not been determined for the slaying. This is the city’s fourth homicide in 2012, which is an increase from 2011 when the city had a total of three homicides all year.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Greenfield Police and ask for Detective Ray Medeles at 831-674-5111 ext 2261.  To remain anonymous call the We-Tip line at 800-782-7463

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