According to ABC30, there was a stabbing at Chevron gas station located at 16150 Elgin Ave, Dos Palos, CA 93620.
Police were called about an altercation between two men in the parking lot of the Chevron. Details regarding the altercation were not released.
The victim, 53-years-old, died after suffering multiple stab wounds. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived. The suspect was later arrested and booked at Merced County Jail. The suspect, Israel Espinoza, 51-years-old, faces the charge of first-degree murder.
ABC30 reported there were two homicides within one day's span before this stabbing.
Attorney contributor Jason Amala, an experienced violent crimes attorney, has worked with many victims in civil lawsuits. Below, Bobby shared his thoughts on the legal options of victims stabbed at a gas station:
“Gas station owners are obligated by law to ensure the safety of the patrons on and around their property. These property owners should do everything possible to provide adequate safety measures. Examples of safety measures include surveillance and strong lighting in the parking lot, but there are plenty more. When a stabbing occurs at a gas station, a victim's family should ask if the station provided adequate security at the time of the incident. If a lawyer can prove that the gas station failed to provide adequate safety measures at the time of the stabbing, the victim's family may have grounds for a civil lawsuit against the property owner.”
“In violent crime cases, a gas station owner might be deemed liable if the crime is found to be reasonably foreseeable. An example of a foreseeable crime is if the property owner was aware of increasing crime rates in the area of their gas station but did not increase security measures. In cases where the violent crime is deemed reasonably foreseeable, and the property owner is deemed negligent, the victim's family may have grounds for a civil lawsuit and should secure the services of an experienced violent crimes attorney.”