Suspect Slashes Roomate, Self With Razor Blade
March 20, 2008
On
March 20, 2008 at 3:30 a.m. Mesa Police responded to Desert
Banner Hospital in west Mesa to investigate a possible stabbing.
Initial reports indicated that the victim had slash wounds to
his back. At the hospital, investigators learned that the
19-year-old male victim had allegedly been slashed with a razor
blade by his roommate, later identified as 21-year-old Scott
Lopez (seen in photo) of Mesa.
Investigators responded to the alleged scene of the crime, an
apartment home located at 850 S. Longmore in Mesa. They located
Scott Lopez at the apartment. Lopez had deep cuts on the inside
of both of his arms. He made statements that the wounds were
self-inflicted. Lopez was transported to a local hospital where
he was treated for his injuries. After receiving medical
treatment, Lopez was released from the hospital and taken into
police custody. During a post-Miranda interview, Lopez admitted
to slashing the victim's back with a razor blade while he was
sleeping. Investigators learned that earlier that evening Lopez
and the victim engaged in a verbal argument, which ultimately
led to the violent slashing.
Lopez is being booked on one count of Aggravated Assault with a
Deadly Weapon. Because Lopez and the victim were roommates, the
assault falls under the State of Arizona's domestic violence
statutes.