A stunning turn of events unfurled during the Mexico-Qatar Gold Cup soccer match at Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium, leaving onlookers in shock and disbelief, with one man critically injured after being stabbed in the neck, as Hoodline reported. Thanks to advanced video technology and vital community input, the suspect involved in this chilling event has now been swiftly identified and apprehended, according to the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD).
Emmanuel Díaz Leal says he's grateful to be alive after he was stabbed at Levi's Stadium last Sunday during the soccer match between Mexico and Qatar. He said the attacker missed his heart and neck by just a few inches and he could’ve died. https://t.co/KCKE29EtWH pic.twitter.com/xzG3wtIuRU
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) July 5, 2023
As fans flocked to the stadium, emotions ran high during the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup double-header games. Upon Qatar's 1-0 victory against Mexico, tensions skyrocketed even further, and chaos erupted in the form of an altercation involving multiple attendees, which, as reported by CBS San Francisco, ultimately resulted in one man being stabbed in the upper collarbone area and transported by ambulance to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
Witnesses and video footage captured the moment the suspect plunged a knife into the victim before fleeing the scene, as Santa Clara officers arrived on-site to find the wounded man, who required immediate medical attention. In the following hours, SCPD detectives identified the male suspect, Alejandro Garcia-Villanueva, as well as a female person of interest in the disturbing event.
With a warrant for attempted murder authorized by a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge, detectives from SCPD and the Sacramento Police Department's East and Central Command Violent Crime Reduction Team converged on Garcia-Villanueva's residence on the 3300 block of 22nd Avenue in Sacramento. The swift arrest came as Garcia-Villanueva peacefully surrendered and was taken into custody without incident, while detectives also located vital evidence following a warranted search of his home.
The 29-year-old suspect, a resident of Sacramento, has since been booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail, facing charges under the CA Penal Code Section 644/187 for attempted murder. While the person of interest was released at the scene due to a lack of involvement in criminal activity, SCPD has expressed immense gratitude towards the Sacramento Police Department for collaborating tirelessly in their dedication of countless hours and public safety personnel that ultimately led to a swift arrest.
As the investigation surrounding the stabbing incident remains active, anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Doug Gerbrandt at (408) 615-4823, or leave an anonymous message on the SCPD Anonymous Tip Line at (408) 615-4TIP (4847).
