Name released in Pacific Beach stabbing death

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Authorities released the name Thursday of a Clairemont man who was fatally knifed after he allegedly sneaked into a Pacific Beach apartment, threatened three residents with a replica pistol and tried to rob them of medical marijuana.

Conner W. Baldassi, 23, died shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday, about 15 minutes after being stabbed at the rental residence a few blocks from Crystal Pier, according to San Diego police.

Officers responding to an emergency call made by a friend of Baldassi's found the burglary suspect mortally wounded on a sidewalk in the 800 block of Emerald Street, SDPD homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney. Baldassi died at the scene several minutes later, despite medics' lifesaving attempts.

A trail of blood led police to a nearby apartment complex in the 4600 block of Bayard Street, SDPD Capt. Jim Collins told reporters.

There, officers found two men and a woman in their 20s, all of whom live in the residence. They described being awoken by Baldassi, who was wearing a mask and gloves and carrying what appeared to be a handgun. The intruder apparently had climbed in through a window, the captain said.

At some point during the confrontation, the woman recognized Baldassi as a prior acquaintance, according to Rooney.

The residents told police the burglar demanded marijuana, which they were cultivating in the apartment, and threatened them, leading to a fight during which one of the male victims stabbed him in the chest. Baldassi then ran out of the home and telephoned a friend, who made a 911 call and met up with the mortally wounded man in the neighborhood.

Following Baldassi's death, officers found the fake gun underneath his body.

There have been no arrests in the case, police said. Preliminary evidence suggested that the fatal stabbing was an instance of lawful self-defense, though the case remains under investigation, Rooney said.

The cannabis-growing setup in the apartment also appeared to be legal, since at least one of the residents has a medical-marijuana card, the lieutenant said. The plants and associated equipment were not seized, he added.