Shocking footage shows a San Diego man being stabbed to death by two men in a fight between three homeless people in an area plagued by encampments.
San Diego County has more than 10,000 homeless people, with the city proposing a $1,500 stipend to keep a thousand more from losing their homes.
In the clip, taken by a Ring camera near a strip mall in National City on Friday, a man in a black sweatshirt is seen taking his cart toward a dumpster in a parking lot.
Another, in a black beanie riding a bicycle, turns up and approaches before attacking him. A fight ensues and another in a baseball cap watches the attack.
The attacker then body slams the homeless man to the ground before the third enters the fray.
Shocking video shows a San Diego man being stabbed to death by two people in a fight between three homeless people in an area plagued by encampments
The man in the black beanie apparently pulled out a knife and stabbed both of the other two men.
At least one person – still unidentified – was found dead by police in the wake of the brawl, as authorities found him with ‘several puncture marks.’
‘Emergency surgery was performed and the victim is now critical, but stable,’ local police said in a statement Friday night.
The second victim was taken to a local hospital, underwent surgery and remains in critical, yet stable condition.
Two local elementary schools in the area spent an hour under a ‘secure campus mode’ from about 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before resuming normal activities.
A man considered a ‘person of interest’ in the investigation was taken into custody at around 2:30.
Police eventually charged Christian Mejia, 29, with murder on Friday night. He remains in police custody.
It comes as San Diego County remains home to numerous homeless encampments and over 10,000 unhoused people.
In the clip, taken by a Ring camera near a strip mall in National City on Friday morning, a man in a black hooded sweatshirt is seen taking his cart toward a dumpster in a parking lot
A man in a black beanie riding a bicycle rides in and approaches the man before clearly attacking him. A fight between the two ensues. Another man in a baseball cap is seen looking on at the action
The attacker then body slams the homeless man to the ground before a third man enters the fray, with the man in the black hat pulling away from the homeless man to fight the third man in
One San Diego leader is proposing paying residents on the brink of losing their homes $1,500 each to help nearly 1,000 individuals avoid homelessness
San Diego is no stranger to issues stemming from its homeless population.
Earlier this year, the city opened the first of two ‘safe-sleeping’ areas in just weeks after the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments.
Democrat Mayor Todd Gloria announced the plan to open the areas in June as a way to combat the city’s homeless crisis, which has been exacerbated by opioids.
The city’s leaders have spoken out in the past about the need for sites like the one opened in June in an effort to get people off of the streets.
‘We are bringing forward a comprehensive shelter strategy with detailed proposals for the short, medium and long terms that include expanded shelter, more safe parking and safe sleeping offerings,’ Mayor Gloria said.
In June, DailyMail.com reported on a homeless woman from San Diego who said that vagrants in the city are ‘spoiled’ with free phones, food and clothes.
Marine Corps veteran Kate Monroe shared video of her talking with several homeless people in an area known as the Bottoms, one of whom, Mary, described the situation as ‘not that hard.’
‘I think we’re spoiled to be honest with you,’ the woman added while talking with Monroe. ‘My sister’s like, ‘Where do I sign up?”
San Diego opened its first of two ‘safe-sleeping’ areas in the border-city in July
In June, the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments throughout the city
San Diego has some 10,000 homeless and unhoused individuals throughout the county
‘Usually we’re low income and when you’re low income, you get free phones, free food, free clothing, there’s so many resources that are just give and give and give,’ the homeless woman said.
Others who spoke with Monroe did not agree with Mary’s description, however, saying they have seen sexual assaults, robberies, and brutal beatings.
‘This ain’t easy, being out here,’ one man who talked with the Marine vet said.
One San Diego leader is proposing paying residents on the brink of losing their homes $1,500 each to help nearly 1,000 individuals avoid homelessness.
In a press conference, San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said the plan, known as the Homeless Diversion Initiative, will keep 800 people off the street.
‘We can help six times more people through diversion than we can through the traditional approaches we’ve been following,’ Lawson-Remer said.
Lawsom-Remer and others said the diversion initiative has proven to be a smart and successful way to keep residents housed in the past.
Data from the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness found that similar programs have kept 2,000 people in the area from becoming homeless.