Esteban Armando Nunez, the 19-year-old son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, was arrested in Sacramento County on Tuesday in connection with the stabbing death of a 22-year-old college student in San Diego, police said.

San Diego Homicide Capt. Jim Collins said Nunez was arrested along with three other men, all also 19. All four will be taken back to San Diego, where they will be jailed. Each faces one count of murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Collins said Luis Santos was stabbed to death at a party near San Diego State on Oct. 4, during a brawl with other partygoers.

Reached by phone Tuesday night, Fabian Nunez declined to comment and referred calls to C. Bradley Patton, a criminal defense lawyer in Carlsbad. Patton did not immediately return a message left at his office.


Arrested in addition to Esteban Nunez were Ryan Jett, Rafael Garcia and Leshanor Thomas. The victim was a student at Mesa College. Three other partygoers were wounded in the fight.

Fabian Nunez served six years in the Assembly, including four as speaker. Term limits forced him to leave office this year.

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tony.perry@latimes.com


Times staff writers Jordan Rau and Patrick McGreevy contributed to this report.