Crime & Safety

Campbell's Teen Stabbing Victim ID'd; Suspected Killer to be Arraigned Thursday

San Jose resident Ivan Diaz Amezcua, 16, died after a Sunday night fight in John D. Morgan Park.

A homeless man suspected of fatally stabbing a San Jose teen in Campbell on Sunday night is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon, according to the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office.

Todd Tharp, 24, was arrested after he was found injured at 8:26 p.m. in the area of John D. Morgan Park at 540 W. Rincon Ave., said the Campbell Police Department.

Tharp appeared to have been in a fight and police learned shortly afterward that a 16-year-old boy had shown up at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center with a stab wound.

The boy was pronounced dead at 2:55 a.m. Monday, police said.

He was later identified as San Jose resident Ivan Diaz Amezcua, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office.

Investigators concluded that Tharp had stabbed the teen during a fight. Tharp was also taken to Valley Medical Center and treated for his injuries, then was booked into jail on suspicion of murder, police said.

Tharp is tentatively scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Santa Clara County Superior Court, according to Lisa McCrary, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call Campbell police Sgt. Gary Berg at (408) 871-5190.

Two Patch readers, who say they personally know Tharp, attest to his gentle side in story comments here.

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