A 22-year-old man was charged Tuesday with killing a man in Stanton last week, less than a week after he was released from jail for another alleged crime.
Charles Mathew Swanson was accused of killing 45-year-old transient Joshua Lee Long, according to Orange County sheriff’s deputies. Swanson was charged with murder and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor battery.
Several 911 calls rolled in at about 6:15 p.m. Thursday regarding a knife-wielding man chasing another man near Beach Boulevard and Chapman Avenue, deputies said.
Long was found on scene with serious injuries and rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Witnesses gave investigators a license plate number and description of the suspect, which led deputies to Swanson, who led them on a chase that ended when the suspect crashed into another car.
Investigators do not know what connection, if any, the suspect and victim have. The motive for the alleged attack wasn’t clear.
Swanson was booked into Orange County Jail on Sept. 9 and released Sept. 19, according to jail records. The reason for that arrest wasn’t immediately clear. He was booked again into jail on Wednesday and released Thursday, according to jail records.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call investigators at 714-647-7000. Orange County Crime Stoppers will accept anonymous tips at 855-TIP-OCCS.