19-year-old, accused of stabbing woman, nearly gouging out man's eye, escapes Long Beach court

A 19-year-old man accused of stabbing a woman and nearly gouging a man’s eye out remains at large today after he fled a Long Beach courthouse.

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating Abel Munguia, who police said is to be considered “very dangerous.”

Munguia, who had been free on bail, appeared in court Wednesday but fled when informed that he had been charged with two separate felony offenses, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He is now the subject of an arrest warrant.

The charges stem from Munguia’s arrest on Dec. 8 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly stabbing a 20-year-old woman in the back.

“On Aug. 3, 2016, Munguia was once again arrested, for mayhem in which he nearly gouged out the eye of a 50-year-old victim,” according to a police statement.

Munguia was wearing an electronic monitoring device on his ankle when he fled, but it was later recovered in Carson.

Anyone with information regarding the fugitive’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Patty Batts, major assault crimes coordinator of the LAPD’s Harbor Division, at 310-726-7861. After-hours and weekend calls should be directed to 877-LAPD-24-7 and anonymous tips can be submitted at www.LACrimeStoppers.org or by calling 800-222-TIPS.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Munguia escaped from the San Pedro courthouse.