Man Assaulted in Old Pasadena On Life Support

Pasadena police report that early Saturday morning at approximately 1:00 a.m. officers responded to the 100 block of South Raymond Avenue regarding a person down on the sidewalk. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Joseph Rafael, 31, of Alhambra.  Rafael was found unresponsive and officers administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

Rafael was then transported to a local area hospital where he is currently on life support due to significant head trauma.

Officers learned the victim and a suspect, Giorgio Bustamante, 30, of Alhambra, were roommates and had been attending a birthday celebration in Old Pasadena.

Rafael and Bustamante reportedly became involved in an argument with each other that escalated into a physical altercation, police say they learned.

Bustamante had remained at the scene and was arrested and booked for attempted homicide at the Pasadena Police Department Jail, where he is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

The investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact Pasadena Police Detectives at (626) 744-4511, the Pasadena Police Dispatch non-emergency number at (626) 744-4241 or report anonymously at crimestoppers.com.