Chowchilla man killed after 'disagreement' over woman with suspects, police say
A 39-year-old Chowchilla man was killed after a fight broke out between him and two other Madera County residents over a woman he was in a relationship with, according to Chowchilla police.
Chowchilla police responded to reports of a stabbing at about 11:15 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of Humboldt Avenue, according to a news release.
They discovered Leeshawn Sykes, who was at a friend's house with a stab wound to his lower right chest area, Lt. Jeff Palmer said.
Officers started life-saving measures and Sykes was transported to a trauma center in Fresno, the release states. Chowchilla police were notified at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday Sykes had died from his injuries.
Using tips from citizens, Chowchilla police, the Madera Police Department's Special Investigations Unit and Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives investigated the slaying and arrested 18-year-old Madera resident Michael Aquino, who police described as a Norteno gang member Tuesday afternoon, according to the release.
Another suspect, 34-year-old Chowchilla resident Anthony Simon, was arrested on suspicion of murder later Wednesday morning in Madera County, police said.
The incident started out as a verbal disagreement between the two suspects and Sykes, Palmer said.
Sykes had a relationship with a woman related to one of the men arrested, police said.
"The suspects didn't like it, and they confronted the victim," Palmer said.
The exact nature of that relationship wasn't immediately clear, according to police.
The argument escalated and turned violent, Palmer said, when Aquino allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Sykes in the chest.
Aquino was booked into the Madera County Department of Corrections Tuesday night on suspicion of murder with a $1 million bond amount, according to Madera County jail inmate records. Booking information on Simon's Wednesday arrest wasn't immediately available.
Police believe the slaying was not gang-related, Palmer said.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Chowchilla Police Sgt. Daniel Denny at 559-665-8600.
This story was originally published June 27, 2018 at 8:53 AM.