The family of Ricardo Villegas, a Santa Ana man who was fatally stabbed on July 14, has created a GoFundMe page to help raise money for his four children. They allege in that page that Villegas died while he was protecting someone that he loved. That was a detail the SAPD did not divulge.
On Monday, July 14, 2025, at approximately 11:09 p.m., Santa Ana Police officers responded to a 911 call of a stabbing that had just occurred in the area of 2400 S. Evergreen Street.
Upon arrival, officers discovered an unresponsive adult male, later identified as Ricardo Villegas Narvaez (44), in the street suffering from multiple stab wounds to his body.
Paramedics from the Orange County Fire Authority responded and transported the male to a local hospital where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.
Here is what the Villegas family posted about Villegas on their GoFundMe page:
On 07-15-2025 our family suffered an unimaginable loss when our beloved Ricardo Villegas was taken from us in a tragic and violent way. He died protecting someone he loved, a final act of bravery that reflects the kind of man he was: selfless, strong, and full of love for his family. He was a funny and a genuine friend, dad, uncle, and person. Ricardo was the person to go to if you needed companionship, laughter, or advice.
He leaves behind four children his daughter Marlen, and his three boys who are now navigating life without their father, their provider, and their emotional anchor. As you can imagine, this loss has not only shattered our hearts, but it’s also left a deep financial burden on the family.