A Southern California Marine has died after being fatally stabbed during a fight in North Carolina.

Daniel Montano, 21, of San Bernardino, was a lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune.

On April 5, Wilmington Police Department officers responded to reports of multiple fights on the 1300 block of Corbett Street in downtown Wilmington at around 2 a.m. During the incident, two men were stabbed.

Montano, who was one of the victims, later died from his injuries on April 6.

The victim, Daniel Montano, 21, of San Bernardino, was killed in a stabbing in Wilmington, North Carolina on April 5, 2026. He was a lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune. (GoFundMe)

The victim, Daniel Montano, 21, of San Bernardino, was killed in a stabbing in Wilmington, North Carolina on April 5, 2026. He was a lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune. (GoFundMe)

The victim, Daniel Montano, 21, of San Bernardino, was killed in a stabbing in Wilmington, North Carolina on April 5, 2026. He was a lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune. (GoFundMe)

The victim, Daniel Montano, 21, of San Bernardino, was killed in a stabbing in Wilmington, North Carolina on April 5, 2026. He was a lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune. (GoFundMe)

The suspect, Amarqeono Brown, 18, of Leland, North Carolina, was arrested for a deadly stabbing on April 5, 2026. (Wilmington Police Department)

The suspect, Amarqeono Brown, 18, of Leland, North Carolina, was arrested for a deadly stabbing on April 5, 2026. (Wilmington Police Department)

Montano served as an inventory management specialist. He enlisted on Oct. 21, 2024, joined his unit on March 25, 2025, and was promoted to lance corporal on Dec. 1, 2025, WCTI News in North Carolina reported.

Detectives released surveillance images of a person of interest in the case. He was described as a Black man with a medium build and was last seen wearing a light-colored fleece-lined denim jacket, light-colored denim pants, a pink shirt and white sneakers with blue and red accents. He was also wearing what appeared to be a dark blue head covering, with long hair extending from underneath, police said.

The suspect, Amarqeono Brown, 18, of Leland, North Carolina, was arrested for a deadly stabbing on April 5, 2026. (Wilmington Police Department)

The suspect, Amarqeono Brown, 18, of Leland, North Carolina, was arrested for a deadly stabbing on April 5, 2026. (Wilmington Police Department)

Investigators are asking anyone who was in the downtown Wilmington area between approximately 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. on April 5 to come forward with any information including cell phone photos or videos, dash cam footage, business surveillance footage or any observations they might have.

“The Wilmington Police Department extends its condolences to Mr. Montano’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the department said in a statement.

No further details were released as the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information on the case can call Det. Childress with the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3686.

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