A Santa Ana man was apparently murdered by his roomate this morning

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 8:29 a.m., Santa Ana Police Communications received a report of unknown trouble at a residence in the 1500 block of S. Lowell Street. Santa Ana Police Officers responded to the residence and located an adult male victim with a stab wound to his torso. The Orange County Fire Authority also responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased.

Through their investigation, officers learned that the suspect, later identified as David James Espinosa (25) of Santa Ana, had fled the residence on a bike. Espinosa was located and detained a few blocks from the residence.

Homicide Detectives assumed the investigation and processed the crime scene. Subsequent interviews unveiled that the victim and the suspect were roommates. Within the residence, a conflict arose between them, leading to a physical altercation and homicide.

The Orange County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as William Stephen Nared (26) of Santa Ana.

Espinosa was arrested and booked at the Santa Ana Jail for Penal Code § 187(a) – Murder.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call SAPD Homicide Section Detectives at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.