SANTA MONICA — Francisco Leon-Urbalexo pleaded guilty to one count of attempted second-degree murder for the stabbing of 19-year-old Jarred Hill on November 27, 2013.
The crime took place on August 13, 2012, at the intersection of 4th Streetand Santa Monica Boulevard when Urbalexo, 39, randomly attacked and stabbed Hill as he was walking out of a restaurant near Third Street with his girlfriend. Hill sustained multiple wounds and was taken to the hospital after the suspect fled the crime scene. A motive behind the stabbing is still unknown.
“The crime was filed at the DA’s office as a hate crime, but was not prosecuted as one,” said Sergeant Jay Moroso to Canyon News. Urbalexo was ultimately identified through DNA evidence he left at the crime scene, after which he was tracked down by Santa Monica police detectives to Yuma, Arizona.
Urbalexo was already behind bars for suspicion of illegally entering theUnited States. After the detectives found Urbalexo, he served a 10-month jail sentence in Yuma before being extradited back to California in June 2013 to face new charges.
He was sentenced to nine years in state prison. Upon completing his sentence, he will be given over to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to be deported back to Mexico. Anyone with additional information of questions is asked to contact Detective Chad Goodwin at (310) 458-8942, Sergeant Tom McLaughlin at (310) 458-8430 or the Santa Monica Police Department (available 24 hours) at (310) 458-8495.
