Downey City Faces $40M Lawsuit Over Grandfather's Killing in Parking Lot Stabbing and Ambulance Theft

On September 13, 2025, Reinaldo Lefonts, a 68-year-old grandfather and retired UCI Medical Center lab worker, was charging his Tesla outside the Downey City Library when a homeless man, Giovanni Navarro, 23, stabbed him during an argument in the parking lot. According to police, Navarro fled the scene toward Downey High School before being arrested without incident. Meanwhile, paramedics arrived to aid Lefonts, only to have another homeless man, Nicholas DeMarco, 52, jump into the ambulance and steal it. The vehicle was later recovered after a high-speed chase to Alhambra, where DeMarco crashed and was arrested. Lefonts died at the scene, his family claims, due to a lack of timely medical care.

The victim's family filed a $40 million tort claim against the city of Downey, alleging that the city failed to provide necessary medical aid and that the ambulance theft left Lefonts without a chance to survive. 'The City's paramedics and rescue vehicle were Reinaldo's only realistic chance of survival,' the legal document read. 'However, the City's paramedics failed to provide necessary medical aid and failed to transport Reinaldo promptly to a nearby hospital.' The claim detailed that the area had seen a surge in criminal activity, with 675 calls for service at the library and Civic Center between January 2022 and December 2025. Among those incidents was the 2022 murder of Downey Police Officer Ricardo Galvez, who was shot in the same parking lot.

Alexi Galindo, the family's lead attorney, said the city was aware of the risks. 'The City of Downey knew this parking lot was dangerous,' he said. 'They knew the man who killed Reinaldo had just been arrested there the day before. They knew their rescue vehicle wasn't properly equipped. And still, they did nothing.' Navarro, who had previously been arrested for trespassing at the Civic Center, was charged with murder and a special allegation of using a weapon. DeMarco, who stole the ambulance, had no prior criminal record, according to police.

The tragedy has sparked outrage, with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, commenting on social media: 'Los Angeles is so bad that you will get stabbed charging your car at the city library by a homeless man, and when an ambulance comes to save you, ANOTHER homeless man steals the ambulance while they're tending to you at the scene leaving you no way to get to the hospital, and you die.' Musk added a single word: 'Wow.'

Downey Mayor Claudia Frometa addressed the issue in a Facebook post, acknowledging the city's struggle with homelessness and crime. 'Municipalities like Downey have been handcuffed for too long by County and State laws that MUST change,' she wrote. 'Criminals MUST be arrested and put away, not released. Addicts with mental illness suffering from homelessness must also be put away.' She urged residents to demand change at the ballot box.

Lefonts, who retired from UCI Medical Center three months before his death, was described by his son, Michael, as a man who lived the 'American dream.' Born in Cuba, he moved to Spain before coming to America with nothing, eventually building a life in Downey. He mentored young physicians, enjoyed scuba diving, motorcycle riding, and training for a hike up Mount Whitney with his son. His grandson, 'Little Ray,' was named after him. 'He loved America. He loved Downey. He loved being an Angeleno,' Michael said.

The family's claim seeks $35 million in general damages and $5 million in special economic damages for loss of financial support, funeral costs, and medical expenses. The case has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over public safety, homelessness, and government responsibility. As the legal battle unfolds, the community grapples with the question of whether systemic failures in law enforcement and social services contributed to a preventable death.