Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on a man charged with stabbing a father to death at a Southern California restaurant (all times local):
10:10 a.m.
Police say they received a call about a man yelling and being disruptive a few hours before he allegedly stabbed a father holding his daughter in the neck in a crowded Southern California restaurant.
Ventura police said in a statement that a bystander reported the man Wednesday evening near the Aloha Steakhouse.
But officers were out on other calls so command center staff monitored him for 20 minutes using a pier security camera system before determining he didn't pose a threat.
Authorities arrested 49-year-old Jamal Jackson three hours later, after they say he stabbed 35-year-old Anthony Mele as Mele's 5-year-old daughter sat on his lap. Jackson has been charged with murder.
Online court records show Jackson has prior convictions for unlawful sexual intercourse and burglary dating back to the 1990s.
___
4:42 p.m.
A homeless man has been charged with murder in the death of a California father who was stabbed in the neck as his 5-year-old daughter sat in his lap in a crowded beachside steakhouse.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office says 49-year-old Jamal Jackson was charged Friday with premeditated, first-degree murder.
Prosecutor Richard Simon says 35-year-old Anthony Mele and his wife were eating dinner with their daughter Wednesday night at Aloha Steakhouse in Ventura.
The girl was sitting in her father's lap when Simon says Jackson walked up and stabbed Mele in the neck.
Jackson says patrons and an employee at the restaurant followed Jackson until he was arrested. Mele died at a hospital.
A GoFundMe page started by Mele's family for funeral costs says their "hearts are severely broken."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
