DD’s Discount Store deadly stabbing suspect pleads not guilty

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON OCT. 27, 2023: The man accused of killing another man outside DD's Discount Store in Salinas Sunday pled not guilty to first-degree murder.

Suspect Jose Velasco, 36, allegedly stabbed a 50-year-old man suffered from multiple stab wounds and died at the scene. The Monterey County District Attorney's Office identified the victim as Fernando Lupian Rivas.

The DA's office said that Velasco used a knife when he murdered his victim and that justified adding an enhancement for use of a deadly weapon to his murder charge.

Velasco faces three other special allegations, one of which is for a prior strike conviction which carries a life in prison eligibility, said the district attorney's office.

Court hearing pushed back for alleged DD's Discount Store stabbing suspect

UPDATE ON OCT. 25, 2023: The court hearing for an alleged suspect who stabbed a 50-year-old man inside of a Salinas discount store has been pushed back.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said that 36-year-old Jose Velasco did not show up to court on Wednesday afternoon.

The DA's office said that they do not know if Velasco refused to show up to court or if there were transportation issues.

Velasco was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on Oct. 22 after he allegedly stabbed a 50-year-old man just outside of a DD's Discount Store on the 900 block of North Main Street.

Velasco was involved in a police brutality case back in June 2015 where he was beaten by five Salinas Police Officers with batons.

All five officers involved in the case were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Suspect in deadly DD's Discount Store stabbing in Salinas identified

UPDATE ON OCT. 23, 2023 AT 6:14 PM- Salinas Police identified the man accused of stabbing another man to death outside of the DD's Discount Store in Salinas.

36-year-old Jose Velasco is booked into the Monterey County Jail on a first-degree murder charge in connection to the stabbing investigation.

The family of the suspect reached out to KION to confirm the suspect's name.

The mother of the suspect said Velasco was previously involved in a police brutality case back in 2015 and since then she's been trying to get him help.

"I'm so sorry for the person who got killed...the family, I am sorry," Rita Acosta said. "I can't even imagine what you guys are going through. But also I've been trying to get my son help for his mental health."

Police said Velasco is accused of stabbing a man outside of the busy department store Sunday afternoon. The victim ran inside asking for help and minutes later people went running out of the store, some covered in blood.

The store was open at around 12 p.m. but they closed it shortly after. Customers who came out of the store said they saw clothes with blood stains.

The suspect's mother said Velasco suffered from Schizophrenia and was released from a Natividad mental health unit two weeks ago.

"My son is not taking his medicine," said Acosta. "I see when he came home from the hospital, he's still not my son," said Acosta. 

Family members told KION the suspect had an appointment to get a mental evaluation today and another one next month.

The victim hasn't been identified at this time.

Police are still trying to determine a motive for the stabbing.

One man dead and one man arrested in DD's Discount Store stabbing in Salinas

Salinas Police said that one man has died after he was stabbed outside a DD's Discount Store on the 900 block of North Main Street.

Police told our reporter at the scene that a male suspect who was allegedly involved in the stabbing was arrested.

Salinas Police Sgt. Luis Bravo said that the victim had multiple stab wounds and died from his injuries at the scene.

"At this point, we're not releasing the name of the victim until next kin or advice. But it's still in the preliminary stages of the investigation," Bravo said. "We don't find it to remain if the victim or the suspect knew each other, or the motive for the stabbing."

Our reporter said that he noticed people running out of the store around 3:15 p.m. and police came shortly thereafter.

Investigators say that the store will remain closed for the rest of the night as they are continuing to investigate the stabbing.

Original Story

Salinas Police confirmed that they are responding to a stabbing that took place at the DD's Discount Store in Salinas.

Our reporter who is at the scene said the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on the 900 block of North Main Street

There is no word yet if anybody has been injured or if any arrests have been made.

This story will continue to be updated at this hour.