SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A San Diego man accused of fatally stabbing an acquaintance at a home in Clairemont pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder charge.
Brandon Ingram, 32, was ordered held on $3 million bail in the death of 31-year-old Ronald Brandon Labastida.
Deputy District Attorney Meredith Claterbos said Ingram and Labastida knew each other and there was bad blood between them.
On Nov. 21, about 12:45 a.m., Ingram went to a home on Channing Street near Limerick Avenue where the victim was known to hang out, the prosecutor told Judge Frederick Maguire.
Labastida answered Ingram's knock on the front door and an altercation ensued, and the defendant was hit in the head with a screen door, according to Claterbos.
Ingram allegedly pulled out a 12-inch-long knife and stabbed the victim once in the upper left torso, severing his aorta, the prosecutor said.
Others in the house called 911 and Labastida was rushed to a hospital, where he died about 40 minutes later.
Ingram fled the scene, tried to hide the knife in his clothing, and was arrested later, Claterbos said.
The defendant has a 2012 robbery conviction and his criminal record dates back to 2003, according to the prosecutor. He faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.
Maguire scheduled a bail review/status conference for Dec. 6 and a preliminary hearing for Dec. 12.
