Costa Mesa police arrest 2 in slaying

Two men suspected of being involved in the fatal stabbing of a Costa Mesa man were in custody Sunday, authorities said.

Antonio Aguilar-Gomez, 22, and Jose Gerardo Guzman-Gomez, 25, were arrested at 12:15 a.m. Friday on suspicion of felony accessory to murder, according to Costa Mesa Police arrest logs.

Police arrested the two Costa Mesa men Friday in connection with the Tuesday night attack on Daniel Martinez Rios.

Several police officials contacted this weekend said they had no further information about the arrests.

Rios, who was 33, died after police found him near his Eastside apartment with several stab wounds. Investigators said Wednesday they believed he was assaulted by his neighbor Evelio Aguilar Gomez after a minor traffic accident with Gomez’s girlfriend. It is unknown if he is related to or knows the two suspects arrested Friday morning.

Fearing that Evelio Aguilar Gomez may have gone to Mexico, the victim’s family contacted the Mexican consulate.

Rios’ family was stunned to hear of the arrests Sunday evening from a reporter. They had not heard from police since Wednesday when detectives came by to speak with the victim’s live-in girlfriend Maite Martinez.

“We plan to keep calling the police” to get an update on the investigation, said Rios’ brother-in-law Chava Espinosa. “We’re very happy the police have made arrests.”

It has been a tough week for the family, Espinosa said. He just spent the last two days in Mexico, bringing Rios’ mother into the United States on a humanitarian visa for the funeral services. And the neighbors continue to support the family. Scores of well-wishers brought food and supplies to the Rios home Sunday evening.

This has been a violent year for the city, Councilwoman Katrina Foley said. The only cure, in her opinion, is more police on the streets.

“It’s unprecedented the number of homicides we’ve had in our city,” Foley said. “If you have cops on the street you won’t see that kind of thing happening.”

In May, Foley introduced a five-year initiative that, among other things, would add two gang officers to the Costa Mesa Police Department.

The number one issue for the city is public safety, Foley said.

Espinosa considered the stabbing an isolated incident, not an example of a trend that crime was rising in Costa Mesa.

“Costa Mesa is still a safe city,” Espinosa said. “All we’re asking for is justice.”

Rios’ brother, Pedro Martinez, says the family is offering a reward of $1,000 to anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Gomez.

Call Espinosa at (949) 633-2872 with any information.