Homer Montes Garcia, 56

Homer Montes Garcia, a 56-year-old Latino, was fatally stabbed Wednesday, Jan. 1, at a restaurant in the 100 block of East 7th Street in downtown, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 8:40 a.m., Garcia and another man got into an argument inside Margarita’s Place, and the other man stabbed Garcia multiple times, police said.

Garcia was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Video footage from inside the restaurant released by police shows the assailant sitting at a counter as another man approaches him.

The two appear to begin arguing, then the clip ends with the assailant getting up and turning toward Garcia.

After the stabbing, the assailant ran from the area.

Two days later, a civilian called police to report seeing the assailant inside the downtown Central Library, police said. Officers responded and took the man into custody.

Devan Cleef Lampkin, a 49-year-old black man, has been charged with murder with the allegation that he used a knife in the killing, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Garcia’s relatives told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that he had just celebrated his 56th birthday. His sister told the TV station that Garcia was a talented musician who brought people together.

“He was just a good soul,” Maribel Garcia told the station.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (213) 484-3642 or (213) 484-3643. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.