Authorities identify 7-year-old Long Beach stabbing victim

A 7-year-old Long Beach boy who was stabbed to death allegedly by his mother’s live-in boyfriend has been identified as Felix Sandoval, officials said today.

Long Beach police officers were called to an apartment complex in the 500 block of East Pleasant Street about 9 p.m. Friday after reports of a woman screaming, according to a statement released by the department.

Officers encountered a 27-year-old woman in the complex’s stairwell who had suffered stab wounds. She pointed to a man standing in the doorway of an apartment and told officers he was killing her children, police said. After the suspect closed and locked the door, officers forced their way into the residence, where they found the boy, who had sustained multiple stab wounds.

He was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he died an hour later, Lt. Cheryl MacWillie of the L.A. County coroner’s office said. His mother was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Her name was not released.

The suspect, identified as Peniamina Tomasi, 30, was booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and is being held at the Long Beach City Jail without bail, police said.

Tomasi lived in the apartment with the woman, with whom he had two children. Each also had three children from previous relationships, and all eight were inside the residence at the time of the incident, police said.

The Department of Children and Family Services took custody of the seven unharmed children, whose ages range from 4 months to 10 years.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Long Beach police detectives at (562) 570-7244.

-- Corina Knoll

Comments

[Mom4life]

what a chilling thing to read. Why was she outside of the apartment, and none of the kids ? My prayers for strength to the rest of the family. As for the monster, throw the book at him.. He's bound to suffer in prison for what he did..

[Just Say'n]

This crazy dude Mr Peniamina Tomasi was just plan heartless, and evil to kill a child like that, and I really hope they throw the book at this evil man. My heart really goes out to this family.