Theodore Kevin Alexander, 53

Theodore Kevin Alexander, a 53-year-old black man, was fatally stabbed on Monday, April 1, in the 3800 block of West Slauson Avenue in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhood of South Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner records. 

Witnesses told investigators they heard people yelling at each other around 2:30 a.m. in some storefront business properties that were being rented out as residences, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Derrick Alfred. 

Alexander and the resident of the space, William Gilbert Sigur, 48, went from arguing to a physical fight inside the building, Alfred said, and then Alexander was stabbed.

Deputies found Alexander lying on the sidewalk, where he was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m., according to coroner's records. Investigators believe he was stabbed inside the building, "due to the amount of blood evidence found inside the converted residence," and at some point walked outside, where he collapsed.

The cause of death was listed as multiple stab wounds.

Sigur was gone when deputies arrived, Alfred said, but he was arrested in Indio the following day. Investigators got information that he was on a bus headed to Yuma, Ariz., Alfred said, and Indio police stopped the bus and arrested Sigur without incident. 

On April 7, Sigur was released from jail after the district attorney's office declined to press charges, Alfred said, "because of self-defense issues."

Investigators believe Alexander came to Sigur's home with a knife around 2:30 a.m., claiming Sigur owed him a small amount of money, less than $50, Alfred said. 

Based on witness accounts and defensive wounds on Sigur's hands, it appears Alexander attacked Sigur first with a knife, Alfred said, and it was only then that Sigur pulled out a knife and stabbed Alexander.

The department is still investigating the case, Alfred said, "but there are no charges pending at this point, and Mr. Sigur is a free man. "

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.