WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – A man was killed in a stabbing that occurred after an argument escalated, and the man police have taken into custody in connection with the death may have been defending himself or others.
According to information from the West Valley City Police Department, an argument began in the driveway of a residence in the area of 3200 South 2000 West Saturday evening.
A press release from police states the suspect went into the home, which is where he lives, and the victim followed. The suspect reportedly asked the man to leave, but the man followed him into the house and allegedly began assaulting the suspect and other family members.
The release states the man came at the suspect, which is when the victim was stabbed.
The victim, later identified by police as 41-year-old Rick Anthony Sanchez of West Jordan, suffered a single stab wound to the chest and was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Police stated the fight began due to family issues and that there were several people in the home at the time. They said the relationship between the two men is not clear but that they may be cousins.
Officials said they are still interviewing witnesses and processing evidence. They stated they did not have, “…enough evidence to book the suspect for homicide. Evidence exists that the suspect may have been defending himself and/or other family members inside his home. Once detectives have analyzed all forensic data, they will work in conjunction with the district attorney’s office to establish whether charges are warranted.”
The suspect, a 32-year-old man, has not been identified.
