Demarcus Jones, 54 [Updated]

Died Dec. 22, 2010

Demarcus Jones, a 54-year-old black man, was stabbed to death Wednesday, Dec. 22, in the 1800 block of West 80th Street in Manchester Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner's office, said Jones suffered multiple sharp instrument wounds at a board-and-care facility about 4:20 a.m.

Authorities were called and he was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he died at 4:58 a.m.

The coroner's office had no other information about the stabbing.

The Times has contacted investigators to obtain additional details regarding the case and will post an update as soon as possible.

[Updated Dec. 29: Det. Chris Barling of the Los Angeles Police Department's Criminal Gang and Homicide Division, who is handling the case, said an argument between Jones and his roommate, Samuel Scott, a 23-year-old black man, led to the stabbing.

The two had been friends before living with each other at the halfway house, Barling said. Investigators believe both men may have had mental health issues that contributed to the fight.

Scott was arrested on suspicion of murder the day of the stabbing. He is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles on $1.02 million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled Jan. 7 in Los Angeles Municipal Court.]

— Sarah Ardalani