Father of Three Fatally Stabbed While Buying Snacks for Children
Valentin Onofre Martinez was attacked in San Juan Capistrano after leaving his children at a park.
A father of three was fatally stabbed in Orange County’s San Juan Capistrano on October 7, authorities reported. Valentin Onofre Martinez, 31, was reportedly walking back to his children, who were waiting at a park, with drinks and snacks when he was attacked.
The incident occurred around 8:10 p.m. near Calle Santa Barbara and Los Rios Street. First responders transported Martinez to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the stabbing as a homicide and has assigned its Homicide and Gang Enforcement Team to the case.
Police detained several individuals at the scene, but no arrests have been made. Martinez’s fiancée, Mia, told ABC 7 that she learned of the incident after hearing sirens and receiving a phone call. She stated that the area was cordoned off with caution tape and surrounded by law enforcement upon her arrival.
Mia recounted the difficulty of informing their children, aged 3, 5, and 7, that their father would not be returning. She emphasized that her fiancé was a devoted parent who was actively involved in his children's lives, taking them to school and working nights at Home Depot to still be present for them.
She expressed a desire for answers and closure, believing her fiancé was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mia also sought to clarify that the stabbing was not gang-related, asserting that if gang affiliation was involved, it was not on her fiancé's part.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover funeral expenses, with a goal of $15,000. Martinez’s mother described him as a hardworking man who deeply cared for his family.