Rialto police said officers responded to the 1200 block of South Verde Avenue at about 8:15 a.m. Sunday and found two injured men. The department said the men had first argued verbally before the confrontation escalated into a physical fight.
Thomas Mike Jesus Leyva, 49, later died at a hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds, including wounds to the chest, according to the San Bernardino Sun. Police identified Jonathan De La Cruz as the other man involved in the altercation.
Medical Care and Custody
De La Cruz, 37, of Perris, was hospitalized for head and face injuries, according to the same account. He was taken into custody after receiving medical care and is suspected of murder in connection with Leyva’s death, Rialto police said.
Rialto police said the investigation remains ongoing.
What County Homicide Data Can Show
San Bernardino County Community Indicators, citing California Department of Justice data, reports that the county’s homicide rate fell by an annual average of 6% from 2020 to 2024. That countywide historical measure does not establish a trend in Rialto or explain this case; the verified figure does not provide recorded weapon types, so it cannot show how this stabbing compares with countywide weapon patterns.
Case Status
No further updates on charges, court proceedings, or additional details about the case have been released. Rialto residents are left waiting for more information as investigators continue to piece together what happened in the quiet residential block that morning.
