Teen arrested in fatal Wasonville stabbing Sunday

A 16-year-old is in custody after Watsonville police officers found a man stabbed to death Sunday near the Pajaro River Levee.

Officers responded to the dead end of Marchant Street for reports of a man stabbed around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Lorenzo Colimote Avalos, 51, was found on the levee, near River Park, with a severe stab wound. Emergency personnel responded but he was declared dead at the scene.

Police spoke with numerous witnesses and learned that two teenage boys had an altercation with the victim and were last seen walking toward the Pajaro River.

A 16-year-old was arrested at his home and taken into custody without incident. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall. Watsonville police have not released his name, but say they’re investigating the crime as gang-related.

The Watsonville Police Department asks anyone with information about this case to call 471-1151 or call the Crime Tip line at 768-3544.