VALLEY VILLAGE, Calif. — A man has been charged with murder following a violent incident in an apartment complex that left a resident dead last month. Erick Escamilla, 27, was apprehended at a local hospital Thursday after nearly two weeks on the run, according to authorities.
The charges come coincidentally on the same day that the family of the victim, 53-year-old Menashe Hidra, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Ashton Sherman Village complex, where the fatal altercation occurred. The lawsuit claims that management ignored multiple complaints regarding security issues prior to the incident.
On April 26, officers conducted a welfare check at the complex located on Riverside Drive and discovered Hidra’s lifeless body inside his apartment. Investigators determined that Hidra had died three days earlier, with a violent confrontation preceding his death. Prosecutors allege that Escamilla used a screwdriver to inflict fatal injuries on Hidra early on April 23.
Authorities reported that Escamilla gained access to the building’s roof and entered a neighboring unit through a skylight. He then climbed onto a balcony and made his way into Hidra’s apartment, resulting in a confrontation that led to the deadly stabbing. Surveillance footage captured Escamilla attempting to access other apartments using a screwdriver prior to the incident.
Hidra’s death has sparked outrage among residents, many of whom voiced their security concerns to property management before the tragedy. Some neighbors reported hearing the struggle and immediately contacted emergency services, but police did not enter the unit at that time.
In response to the lawsuit, attorney Steve Vartazarian, who represents Hidra’s family, emphasized the property management’s negligence. He cited over 50 complaints regarding security issues submitted in the six months leading to the incident. Vartazarian described the situation as one of the most shocking forms of neglect he has encountered in his career.
Hidra, originally from Tel Aviv, owned a roofing business, and his death has left the community in mourning. A neighbor expressed deep frustration over the preventable nature of the tragedy, stating that a life was lost for reasons that should have been addressed.
Escamilla faces charges of murder and residential burglary, with the murder charge including allegations that he used a deadly weapon during the commission of the crime and has a previous burglary conviction. The community remains vigilant as they seek justice for Hidra and answers regarding the failures of the property management.
Efforts to obtain comments from the management of the apartment complex have not yet received a response. Meanwhile, the investigation continues and residents hope for changes that prioritize their safety and well-being.