A 25-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally stabbing another man during a fight at a party in 2019, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said.

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Isaiah Elias Garcia was convicted last month of second-degree murder and the use of a deadly weapon in the killing, which happened after a fight escalated between two groups at a party in Visalia on Feb. 23, 2019.

Authorities said Garcia and others left the party following the altercation but later used Snapchat to challenge the other group to a second confrontation. When the invitation was declined, Garcia’s group drove to the other group’s location, where another fight broke out.

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During the fight, Garcia stabbed the victim in the chest. He died at the scene from massive blood loss due to a stab to the heart.

Garcia was identified and arrested following a digital forensic investigation and witness testimony.

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He was sentenced in Tulare County Superior Court to 15 years to life. Under current California law, he must serve at least 16 years before being eligible for parole.

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