Pinoy seaman Michael Monegro admits to fatal stabbing on L.A.-bound container ship

Seaman admits to fatal stabbing on L.A.-bound container ship
City News Service May 2, 2022 https://www.dailybreeze.com/2022/05/02/seaman-guilty-of-fatal-stabbing-o...

A Philippines national who fatally stabbed a fellow crew member on a container ship en route from Shanghai to Los Angeles pleaded guilty Monday, May 2, to a federal criminal charge.

Michael Monegro, 43, entered his plea to one federal count of committing an act of violence against a person onboard a ship that is likely to endanger the vessel’s safe navigation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer scheduled Sept. 12 for sentencing, when Monegro will face up to life behind bars, prosecutors said.

Monegro was a seaman aboard the MSC Ravenna, a Liberian-flagged container ship, on Sept. 20, 2020, when the ship was 80 nautical miles from Southern California, nearing the end of its two-week voyage to the Port of Los Angeles.

Several crew members were in a dressing room on the ship’s upper deck, waiting for their direct supervisor to provide their assignments for the day.

Shortly after, Monegro saw his direct supervisor in the hallway outside the locker room, and Monegro began stabbing him with a knife while they were both in the hallway in full view of several crew members.

The victim grappled with Monegro and the two fell to the floor.

Monegro then got on top of the victim and continued stabbing him. Monegro then removed a second knife from the victim’s coveralls and stabbed him with both knives, according to federal prosecutors.

Crew members attempted to stop Monegro, including throwing a trash can at him. Monegro admitted that he only stopped stabbing the victim when he became too tired to continue.

The Ravenna’s captain, chief mate and chief engineer all arrived on scene during the incident, and the captain persuaded Monegro to get off of the victim, who died on the ship.

Monegro was persuaded by the captain to walk to a conference room. After continued discussions, Monegro placed the knives on the conference room table and was escorted to his cabin.

Monegro was confined to a cabin and crew members guarded the door, keeping them from their normal duties.

Federal agents arrested Monegro after the ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles a week after the fatal stabbing.