A 19-year-old Turlock teen was taken into custody last week after an extensive investigation into the stabbing death of a Belmont teen.

Timothy Andrew Guerra, 19, of Turlock, was charged with murder for the Belmont stabbing, reports the Belmont Police Department.

The stabbing occurred on April 25 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Masonic Way in Belmont.

Police and fire responded and found a male subject with multiple stab wounds. The victim, Denis Meshchyshyn, 19, was treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Witnesses told police that Meshchyshyn had been fighting with an unknown subject and the suspect fled westbound on Masonic Way, toward Old Country Road. The witnesses called 911 after realizing that the victim had been stabbed.

Belmont police investigators quickly identified Guerra, who was an acquaintance of Meshchyshyn and had ties to both Belmont and Turlock, as the suspect.

On April 29, a witness had reported possibly seeing Guerra at the Belmont Caltrain Station, boarding a northbound train. However, the train was held and searched at a downtown San Mateo station, but Guerra was not located.

Later that day, Belmont police traveled to Turlock with an arrest warrant for Guerra, charging him with Meshchyshyn’s murder. He was located in a park that afternoon and taken into custody without incident.

"We wouldn't have solved this tragic crime so quickly without the support of our law enforcement partners and the cooperation of many witnesses", said Belmont Police Chief Dan DeSmidt.

The Belmont Police would specifically like to thank the San Mateo Police, San Mateo County Sheriff, San Mateo County District Attorney, Turlock Police, Stanislaus County Sheriff, Stanislaus County Probation and Belmont Fire Department, for assistance provided during this investigation.”

Guerra’s booking photo was not released as the homicide is still under investigation.