A man in Surprise, Arizona, is in critical condition after being stabbed in a shopping center parking lot earlier this afternoon. The incident happened near Reems Road and Grand Avenue and began as a fight between two men.
Several people who witnessed the altercation rushed to intervene, breaking up the fight and restraining the suspect until police arrived.
Ron Fritz, who works at a nearby counseling center, recognized the suspect and shared some insight into his situation. Fritz revealed that he had spoken to the man twice earlier in the day. According to him, the suspect seemed very downcast, mentioning he hadn’t eaten for days and was struggling with homelessness.
Feeling for the man, Fritz said he tried to help by buying him lunch. “I got him something to eat around 1 o’clock. This happened about an hour and a half later,” Fritz explained. From his office window, he saw the fight break out and immediately called the police.
Marina Portillo, who owns a business in the same shopping center, said she was also familiar with the suspect. He had previously worked at a nearby restaurant. “He always seemed nice,” Portillo said. But earlier today, she noticed him pacing around the parking lot. “We heard a lot of noise, and when my employees and I went outside, we saw a man on the ground, bleeding.”
Surprise Police confirmed that the suspect and the victim, both men in their 20s or 30s, knew each other. Officers arriving at the scene found citizens actively restraining the suspect, who was then taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine what led to the fight.
As the community processes this unsettling event, both witnesses and law enforcement are trying to piece together the events leading up to the altercation. It’s a reminder that unexpected events can unfold even in broad daylight.
