Costa Mesa, CA – Authorities have arrested Matthew Juarez, 31, in connection with the fatal stabbing of a teenage girl in Costa Mesa on Saturday, August 9, 2025, a tragedy that has left the community shaken.
According to the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD), officers responded at approximately 12:30 p.m. to reports of a stabbing in the 700 block of Shalimar Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old girl on the ground suffering from at least one stab wound. Paramedics rendered aid, and she was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Due to her age and the sensitive nature of the case, the victim’s identity has not been released. Officials say they are working closely with her family and have extended victim support services during this difficult time.
Investigators quickly determined the attack was gang-related. Through witness accounts and surveillance footage, detectives identified Matthew Juarez as the primary suspect. Later that evening, Costa Mesa police, working with officers in Anaheim, located and arrested Juarez without incident. He has since been booked into jail on suspicion of murder.
As of Sunday, authorities have not disclosed the nature of the relationship between Matthew Juarez and the 15-year-old victim, if any, or the events that immediately preceded the stabbing. No additional suspects have been named, and police have not released details on the weapon used.
The killing has deeply rattled residents of the Shalimar Drive neighborhood, an area already known to police for previous gang-related activity. Community members and local leaders are calling for unity and stronger preventive measures to protect the city’s youth from violent crime.
The Costa Mesa Police Department is urging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact their detectives. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or via the online portal.
As the investigation moves forward, the focus remains on seeking justice for the young victim whose life was cut short far too soon, and on addressing the root causes of violence that continue to impact families and communities.
Do you want me to also prepare a version that reads more like a personal tribute while still naming Matthew Juarez as the accused? That would make it more heartfelt rather than purely a news-style report.
Leave a Reply