Springdale Police: Man Stabbed to Death with Knife Stolen from Store
By: KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: February 14, 2013
The Springdale Police Department is investigating a Wednesday night stabbing death.
Officers were called to the area of Morrison Place and Huntsville Avenue around 6:30 where two men had been reported fighting.
When officers arrived they found Juan Perez-Lopez, 27, leaving the scene on a bicycle with a knife in his hand. He was ordered to the ground and placed under arrest.
In the parking lot where the fight happened, police found the body of Jesus Villalobos, 48. He had suffered stab wounds to his chest and a cut to his throat, police said.
During an interview with police, Perez-Lopez reportedly admitted to stabbing the victim.
Police say he told officers he met Villalobos at the Latino Mechanica shop where he worked on N. Campbell Drive Saturday to have Villalobos work on his vehicle. He says when Villalobos took too long to fix the car and requested additional parts, he felt Villalobos was "making him to be a fool."
Perez-Lopez told police he went to check on the car again on Tuesday. When he was again told the car would not be ready, police say he told them he went to the Springdale Walmart and stole the hunting knife that was recovered at the murder scene. Perez-Lopez admitted to police he stole the knife specifically to stab Villalobos because he felt he was taking advantage of him.
He told police he went to Villalobos' shop Wednesday to speak with him about the car again and almost immediately stabbed him in the chest.
The suspect told officers he chased after Villalobos on his bicycle and stabbed him several more times until he fell to the ground. Police say Perez-Lopez admitted stabbing Villalobos 15 more times.
The investigation determined Villalobos had been chased almost 300 feet from the shop to where his body was found.
Police also learned that two juveniles had witnessed the incident and were traumatized by it.
The court documents say Perez-Lopez showed no emotion and no remorse as he spoke about the murder.
He's scheduled for a court hearing Friday morning.
Perez-Lopez is being held at the Washington County Detention Center on a Capital Murder charge.
Officers were called to the area of Morrison Place and Huntsville Avenue around 6:30 where two men had been reported fighting.
When officers arrived they found Juan Perez-Lopez, 27, leaving the scene on a bicycle with a knife in his hand. He was ordered to the ground and placed under arrest.
In the parking lot where the fight happened, police found the body of Jesus Villalobos, 48. He had suffered stab wounds to his chest and a cut to his throat, police said.
During an interview with police, Perez-Lopez reportedly admitted to stabbing the victim.
Police say he told officers he met Villalobos at the Latino Mechanica shop where he worked on N. Campbell Drive Saturday to have Villalobos work on his vehicle. He says when Villalobos took too long to fix the car and requested additional parts, he felt Villalobos was "making him to be a fool."
Perez-Lopez told police he went to check on the car again on Tuesday. When he was again told the car would not be ready, police say he told them he went to the Springdale Walmart and stole the hunting knife that was recovered at the murder scene. Perez-Lopez admitted to police he stole the knife specifically to stab Villalobos because he felt he was taking advantage of him.
He told police he went to Villalobos' shop Wednesday to speak with him about the car again and almost immediately stabbed him in the chest.
The suspect told officers he chased after Villalobos on his bicycle and stabbed him several more times until he fell to the ground. Police say Perez-Lopez admitted stabbing Villalobos 15 more times.
The investigation determined Villalobos had been chased almost 300 feet from the shop to where his body was found.
Police also learned that two juveniles had witnessed the incident and were traumatized by it.
The court documents say Perez-Lopez showed no emotion and no remorse as he spoke about the murder.
He's scheduled for a court hearing Friday morning.
Perez-Lopez is being held at the Washington County Detention Center on a Capital Murder charge.
