Halloween Weekend birthday party results in stabbing death
SYLMAR – A Saturday night, October 27th birthday party turned tragic when 20-year-old David Silva was arrested for fatally stabbing 19-year-old Anthony Hernandez, another guest at the party in Sylmar.
“This latest party incident occurred in spite of deploying three police units around the Northeast Valley to monitor parties on this weekend before Halloween,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division. “But the police patrols wouldn’t have made a difference regardless for this incident as there had been no complaints about this party.”
Hernandez was just one of an estimated 50 revelers when he arrived at the house party on the 13300 block of Sayre Street as a friend of an invited guest. Late that night, at about 1:30 am, a fight broke out in the backyard as the party winded down.
A Birthday party turned deadly in this neighborhood in Sylmar after midnight
When police arrived, they found the victim lying on the walkway in front of the house with several people around him rendering aid. He died a short time later after paramedics took him to Holy Cross Hospital.
After questioning less than a dozen people who had remained at the house after the murder, detectives worked through Sunday until they narrowed their investigation to Silva, who had left the party before police arrived.
Neither Silva nor Hernandez had any gang ties or any significant criminal history. Silva was booked for murder at the Van Nuys Jail. His bail amount was unknown at the time of this writing.
Lt. Vernon saw this incident as a cautionary tale against reckless parties.
“This is another example of how alcohol, impulsive acts and weapons combined turn an otherwise happy occasion into a tragic circumstance changing lives forever,” said Lt. Vernon.
Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Gretchen Schultz, Mission Homicide Unit, at 818-838-9951. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.
Read More:
Daily News: Sylmar party stabbing victim is ID’d
NorthHollywood-TolucaLake Patch: Sun Valley Man Fatally Stabbed at Sylmar Party
