Crime & Safety

Santa Monica Man Suspected in Fatal Party Stabbing

UPDATED: Laguna Beach man identified as victim in murder. Sounds of female screaming from inside a downtown Santa Monica apartment prompted 911 call early Wednesday morning.

This story was originally published at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday. It was updated Thursday with the victim's identity.

A 26-year-old Santa Monica resident was booked Wednesday evening on suspicion of murder in the stabbing death of a Laguna Beach man at an upscale downtown apartment earlier that morning.

Ryan Taylor Bright was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

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At about 3:25 a.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting a female screaming from inside the apartment at 425 Broadway St. When they entered the unit, officers found a man with multiple stab wounds lying on the living room floor.

The victim was Jensen Gray, 27, of Laguna Beach, according to a coroner's official. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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"Where the murder occured, there was a little house party and everybody knew each other," said Sgt. Richard Lewis. "At some point, this party turned into a violent act between two people."

The weapon—a knife—has been recovered.

"My understanding, at this preliminary stage, is that the suspect and victim knew each other, I'm not sure if they were friends or not," Lewis said.

Bright was hospitalized Wednesday morning, Lewis said, but he was unsure whether he sustained any injuries. Investigators served a warrant at his Santa Monica home.

Investigators are trying to determine what triggered the stabbing, he said.

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