THE PRESS ENTERPRISE: $40 million sought by family of Downey man stabbed to death outside library

on the morning of Sept. 13 when he was allegedly stabbed by Giovanni Navarro, a homeless man who had been convicted 28 times for various offenses, including brandishing a weapon, attempted burglary, criminal threats and resisting arrest . . .   --Joe Nelson

from "$40 Million Sought by Family of Downey Man Stabbed to Death Outside Library," Joe Nelson, The Press Enterprise, March 7, 2026.  This article is behind a paywall @ The Enterprise.  It's free at the OC Register.

Reinaldo Lefonts, 68, of Downey, at work at UCI Medical Center in this undated photo. Lefonts was fatally stabbed outside the Downey City Library while charging his Tesla on Sept. 13, 2025. His family is seeking $40 million in a wrongful death claim against the city filed on Friday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS GALINDO

The family of a Downey man who was fatally stabbed as he charged the battery of his car outside the city library has filed a claim against the city seeking $40 million in damages.  

Reinaldo Jesus Lefonts, 68, was charging his Tesla at an EV station outside the Downey City Library on the morning of Sept. 13 when he was allegedly stabbed by Giovanni Navarro, a homeless man who had been convicted 28 times for various offenses, including brandishing a weapon, attempted burglary, criminal threats and resisting arrest, according to the claim filed with the city on Friday. 

Paramedics responded to the library and were treating Lefonts when another homeless man, identified as Nicholas DeMarco, stole their vehicle, which was not equipped with a Tremco anti-theft system installed in many police and emergency responder vehicles that locks the gear shifter when the vehicle is left running, the claim says. 

 “In that moment, every second mattered. The City’s paramedics and rescue vehicle were Reinaldo’s only realistic chance of survival,” it states. “However, the City’s paramedics failed to provide necessary medical aid and failed to transport Reinaldo promptly to a nearby hospital.” 

Lefonts died at the scene as a result, attorneys for his family said in a news release. 

DeMarco led police on a high-speed chase to Alhambra, where he crashed the vehicle and was arrested, according to the release.           

The events of Sept. 13, the claim states, were neither random nor unexpected. City officials knew that the Civic Center and library area had become a hub for criminal activity, much of it involving homeless people loitering around the parking lot. In fact, according to the claim, Navarro had been arrested for trespassing at the Civic Center less than 24 hours before he allegedly stabbed Lefonts. 

Navarro was charged with murder and a special allegation of using a weapon to commit the offense. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court’s Norwalk Courthouse on April 2, according to court records.

Attorneys for Lefonts’ family said they reviewed a history of crime in the area and determined about 675 calls for service at the city library and Civic Center occurred between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2025. They included calls for assaults, robberies, sex crimes, arson, theft and narcotics violations.

On Nov. 18, 2015, the claim states, Downey Police Officer Ricardo Galvez was fatally shot while sitting in his personal vehicle in the Civic Center parking lot, the same lot where Lefonts was fatally stabbed.

“The City of Downey held a funeral for a man murdered in this specific parking lot,” according to the claim. “They erected a memorial.”

Additionally, the city, just weeks before Lefonts’ death, received and discussed a report on homeless-related public safety concerns at its Aug. 26 meeting, the claim says.

City officials, including Mayor Claudia Frometa and Councilmember Horacio Ortiz, did not respond to emails seeking comment Saturday.

“The City of Downey knew this parking lot was dangerous,” said Alexis Galindo, the lead attorney representing the Lefonts family in the litigation. “They knew the man who killed Reinaldo had just been arrested there the day before. They knew their rescue vehicle wasn’t properly equipped. And still, they did nothing. Reinaldo died within reach of help that should have been there. His family deserves answers, accountability and justice.”

Lefonts had worked in a lab at UCI Medical Center and had been retired just three months when he was killed, Galindo said.

“He tested medications, took blood samples and worked with and mentored young physicians in the field of diagnostic work,” he said. “During COVID, he was working all the time, making sure the people were getting the vaccines and the medications they needed at the medical center.”

Lefonts enjoyed motorcycle riding and scuba diving, and in retirement, he was training to hike Mount Whitney with his son, Michael, the attorney said.

“He enjoyed spending time with his family and his grandson, named ‘Little Ray,’ ” Galindo said, adding that Little Ray was named after his grandfather.

On behalf of the family, attorneys are requesting $35 million in general damages and $5 million in special economic damages for loss of financial support, medical and funeral expenses.

Lefonts’ death followed another high-profile fatal stabbing in which a homeless person was implicated.

On Jan. 13, 2022, 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer was fatally stabbed while working alone inside a furniture store in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. Shawn Laval Smith was convicted in September 2024 for her murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.