SAN JOSE — Two men have been charged with murder in the slaying of beloved Little League president Frank Navarro, who was stabbed to death during a confrontation Sunday outside a downtown San Jose bar where he worked as a security manager, authorities said. Related Articles San Jose: Slain club employee was beloved Little League president

Robert Ruiz, 32, and Aaron Vallejo, 24, both of San Jose, were detained shortly after the Feb. 25 attack outside Tres Gringos Cabo Cantina on Second Street near San Fernando Street. They were stopped in a vehicle near Saratoga Avenue and Kiely Boulevard a few miles away in West San Jose, and were subsequently arrested, according to San Jose police.

But even with the arrests and a murder arraignment Wednesday, investigators are not detailing the pair’s involvement in Navarro’s death, including whether one or both of them stabbed the victim. The case file that would contain a probable-cause statement has been sealed, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Ruiz and Vallejo appeared in a San Jose courtroom Wednesday where each answered to one count of murder. Ruiz was also charged with reckless driving while evading an officer.

Both men were sent back to the Santa Clara County Main Jail where they are being held without bail. They are next scheduled to appear in court March 21.

Police said the murder investigation is ongoing. Officer Albert Morales urged anyone with additional details about the stabbing or information about other suspects to reach out to homicide detectives.

Navarro was stepping in for a besieged employee Saturday night, when the club denied entry to a tattooed customer who allegedly presented someone else’s ID, according to family members. The disgruntled man, accompanied by others, later returned and a physical confrontation broke out. Security workers called for Navarro, their manager, and in the fracas he was stabbed.

Police have declined to corroborate the specifics of that account, and have stated only that “Navarro and co-workers were involved in an altercation with several individuals” prior to the stabbing reported around 12:06 a.m. Navarro was rushed to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

His death sent shock waves throughout the East San Jose community, where he was president of Eastridge Little League, after years spent playing, coaching and volunteering. Hundreds of family members, friends and others gathered to mourn Navarro at a vigil Sunday night, filling the infield of an Eastridge ball field on Cunningham Avenue.

An Overfelt High school alum, Navarro was on the wrestling and football teams, playing a defensive lineman on a team that won the Central Coast Section championship. He attended De Anza College, worked in China teaching English, and spent several years as a preschool classroom aide at Grant Elementary in San Jose Unified. He returned to Overfelt to coach varsity football and baseball.

Navarro worked for a security contractor and also for at least 10 years in security for a company that owned downtown San Jose clubs, including VooDoo Lounge, San Jose Bar and Grill and Tres Gringos.

Anyone with information about the case can contact SJPD homicide Detective Sgt. John Barg or Detective Wayne Smith at 408-277-5283 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP or svcrimestoppers.org.

TO HELP

The family of Frank Navarro has set up an account to help cover his funeral expenses, which can be accessed online at www.gofundme.com/funeral-cost-for-frank-navarro.

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