A Sylmar man has been charged with the stabbing death of a strip mall security guard, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today

Santiago Madrigal (dob 1/25/93) faces one count of murder with an allegation that he used a knife as a deadly weapon.

Madrigal was arraigned yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 28 to set a date for a preliminary hearing in Department S of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, San Fernando Branch.

The security guard, Joe Lopez, 28, was stabbed to death on Aug. 6, after the defendant allegedly stole from a supermarket located in the mall near the corner of Glenoaks Boulevard and Hubbard Avenue, prosecutors said.

Deputy District Attorney SuSu Scott is assigned to prosecute the case.

If convicted as charged, Madrigal faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison with the possibility of parole. Bail has been set at $1 million.

Case PA089332 remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau

Los Angeles County District Attorney / Case PA089332 / August 9, 2017