Police Say Transient's Murder Was Caught On Surveillance Tape
PLACENTIA (CBS) — Placentia police are looking for the suspect they say fatally stabbed a male transient -- seemingly without provocation.
And they said the attack was caught on surveillance video.
The victim, identified Thursday as 53-year-old James Patrick McGillivray, was fatally stabbed in the 100 block of N. Bradford Ave. in a shopping center, Placentia police Lt. Eric Point said. Surveillance video footage from a nearby business shows McGillivray was stabbed about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, Point said.
The footage indicates the killer was targeting McGillivray, Point said.
"It appears as if the killer waited methodically to commit this heinous and violent attack against McGillivray," Point said.
The killer is a thin man about 18 to 25 years old and is 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9, Point said. He was wearing all black clothes, Point said.
McGillivray has relatives in Placentia and lived in the area for many years, Point said.
"It was not typical of McGillivray to be involved in confrontations, which is leaving the police wondering why this senseless murder occurred," Point said.
Anyone with information on the killing was asked to call Detective Bryce Angel at (714) 993-8164. Information can also be phoned in anonymously to the Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS, or by going to the organization's website at occrimestoppers.org.
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