San Jose

‘It Doesn't Make Any Sense': Family Searching for Answers in Deadly Christmas Stabbing in San Jose

Family and friends of a 24-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in San Jose on Christmas morning are hoping someone will come forward with information on the suspects.

"We just feel he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was not gang affiliated," Stephanie Ramirez said of her cousin, Luis Marin. "If you know him, you'd know he was about being happy."

Ramirez said Marin had just finished Christmas Eve dinner with friends when he was attacked early Friday.

"These guys were yelling at them from across the street, saying 'Do you guys bang? You gang members?'" Ramirez said. "They said 'No, we're rockers' and kept walking."

But the attackers kept coming. Family members said one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed Marin.

"There are a lot of families out there that have that fear for their son's, their kids out in the street," said Alva Arreola, Marin's cousin. "It's crazy right now in San Jose.

Police said Marin is the 28th person killed in San Jose this year.

Officers at about 5:40 a.m. Friday responded to a report of a stabbing in the 200 block of N. 26th Street and found Marin with at least one stab wound. Marin was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

Investigators do not have a motive nor do officers understand the circumstances of the stabbing, police said.

A growing memorial for Marin sits in front of Melanie Damrel's home.

"No one should have to leave the world like this," Damrel said of the deadly stabbing. "It doesn't make any sense."

The stabbing also does not make sense for Marin's family, who said he was the main source of income at his household. Marin's family believes mistaken identity cost him his life and want the killers caught.

"It's sad someone would take someone's life like that in an instant," said Yaneli Amaya, Marin's cousin.

Marin's family is working hard to raise money for funeral expenses and have set up a GoFundMe account.

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