On Friday, December 19, 2025, just after 4:00pm, a male victim was walking along the 200 block of Smilax Road, in the City of San Marcos, when a gray sedan stopped alongside him. The vehicle contained four unknown Hispanic male occupants. The occupants confronted the victim regarding his possible gang affiliation. The victim fled toward a nearby apartment complex. As the victim fled, three male suspects exited the vehicle and chased him on foot. The victim stated an unknown Hispanic male stabbed him twice. He sustained non-life threatening injuries to his back and left elbow. He later contacted deputies at the scene and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Follow-up investigation utilizing Safe Streets camera footage led to the identification of a possible suspect vehicle. After the stabbing occurred, the suspect vehicle fled the area. Using vehicle descriptors from Safe Streets camera footage, the Flock LPR system was utilized and ultimately resulted in the discovery and identification of the suspect vehicle. As a result of this technology and the thorough investigation by detectives from the Sheriff’s Narcotics and Gangs Division, the stabbing suspect was identified.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Yael Galicia (DOB: 06/16/2007) was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and promoting/assisting a criminal street gang. He was booked into the Sheriff’s Vista Detention Facility.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the San Marcos Sheriff’s Station at (760) 510-5200.
