Family says Maryland man killed while helping employee remove disruptive men from restaurant – NBC4 Washington

The family of a man who was stabbed at a Maryland restaurant says he was always quick to intervene and help when he saw someone was about to be harmed, and they believe quality led to his death .

The family told Telemundo 44 they believe 23-year-old Lusvin España of Hyattsville died trying to stop two men who were causing trouble at El Paraiso in Chillum, where España was having dinner with his boss and co-workers, including his brother, who had left before the stabbing.

Cell phone video shows España and a restaurant employee trying to get the two men to leave before 11 p.m. Wednesday. The men appear angry and combative.

Moments later, España and the employee were stabbed.

According to Prince George's County police, the victims were taken to the hospital where España died. The restaurant employee is expected to survive.

The family says Espana had a heart as big as his smile and he was grateful to be able to use his physical strength to work hard in construction and help his family.

“When this tragedy occurred, he was just returning from work,” his mother, Glenda Maribel España, told Telemundo 44. “He was not at parties; he came back from work.”

Officers found the suspects — 34-year-old Alexis Romero of Fairmont Heights and 27-year-old Edwin Meija-Sandoval of Silver Spring — not far from the crime scene, police said.

According to police, España did not know the suspects.

“We want justice,” said España’s brother Nolvin Josue España. “My brother isn’t coming back, but we need justice so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Romero and Mejia-Sandoval are charged with first- and second-degree murder.