A man who reportedly stabbed his stepfather to death on Christmas Day has been charged with murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has announced.

The defendant, Rudy Flores, 22, is charged with one count of murder and one count of making criminal threats. The crime occurred in an undisclosed location in South Los Angeles. The criminal complaint further alleges that the defendant personally used a deadly or dangerous weapon — a knife.

According to Deputy District Attorney Beatriz Dieringer, Flores had been arguing with his mother about a baseball bat she hid from him prior to the incident. The mother refused to tell him where it was located and went to her bedroom, Dieringer said. As she closed the bedroom door, Flores allegedly pushed his way in and stabbed his stepfather, Nery Ambrosio, 54, who was in the room.

The prosecutor said the defendant then began threatening his stepsister, who called 911 for help. Neighbors subdued Flores until authorities arrived and arrested him, the prosecutor added. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. If convicted as charged, Flores faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.