Vista

A man was stabbed to death outside a convenience store Wednesday evening, a sheriff’s homicide detective said.

Hector Parada, 38, of Vista, accompanied by a woman, was attacked by a group of Latino men just outside the convenience store, on the 500 block of North Santa Fe Avenue about 7:30 p.m., Sgt. Dan Goodrich said.

Sheriff deputies responded to a call from the store’s clerk, who notified them about the attack, Goodrich said. Upon arrival, the deputies found Parada under the care of paramedics. The victim was taken to Tri-City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Goodrich said Parada’s female companion was unharmed. He declined to reveal her identity.

According to Goodrich, Parada had been walking to the store with the woman, when his assailants, who had been loitering at the store, called over Parada, who was unemployed. When Parada approached them, the attackers lunged and stabbed him in the chest. The assailants fled immediately in several cars.

Several witnesses have been questioned, but no one has been arrested, Goodrich said.