Monday, December 7, 2009

Phoenix, AZ: PD: Teen’s ex-boyfriend kills dad, hurts mom during stabbing

Reported by: Katrina Wessman

PHOENIX – A teen was arrested for allegedly stabbing a man to death and injuring a woman and their daughter during a fight outside a Phoenix home late Sunday.

"I heard a girl scream so loud, she was screaming in Spanish, ‘Somebody please come help me,’" said one neighbor who didn't want to be identified.

Officers responded to a report of a woman screaming in the area of 83rd Avenue and Indian School Road around 10 p.m.

"She said, ‘Please help my dad,’” said the neighbor. “He had been stabbed a couple of times, I guess her ex-boyfriend had stabbed him.”

When officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly found 42-year-old Adolfo Leyva and 42-year-old Dora Leyva with multiple stab wounds, and their 17-year-old daughter with facial injuries.

Detective James Holmes with the Phoenix Police Department said officers learned 18-year-old Jaime Arturo Olivas, the daughter’s estranged boyfriend, had arrived at the home moments earlier and knocked on the daughter's window in an effort to talk to her about an earlier break up.

The daughter reportedly went outside the home to speak to Olivas and he began assaulting her.

Holmes said Adolfo was awakened by the noise of the assault and he went outside to rescue his daughter.

Adolfo and Olivas apparently became involved in a physical fight and Olivas stabbed Adolfo several times.

Dora, who had also gone outside, attempted to stop the fight and she was cut by Olivas, said Holmes.

Several neighbors reportedly emerged from their homes and went to the aid of the family.
"I just grabbed the other guy off of him,” said the neighbor. Two of my neighbors came and they tried to help me, but they couldn't hold him down.”
Holmes said the knife was knocked away from Olivas and he was detained by neighbors until police arrived.

Adolfo and Dora were transported to a local hospital where Adolfo later died from his injuries.

Dora and her daughter received non-life threatening injuries.

Olivas was interviewed by police detectives and he reportedly made admissions to assaulting the daughter and cutting both Adolfo and Dora.

Olivas was later booked into jail and is facing one count of first degree murder, one count of attempted first degree murder, and one count of assault.

Phoenix police detectives have learned that, though there is no criminal history for the suspect, there may have been a history of violence between the suspect and the 17-year-old.

Most people think of domestic violence as an adult problem, and parents most times don't even realize its happening, said police.

"It's not something we look for, we look for drugs, you might look for alcohol, cutting school, driving too fast but you don't think of this," said JoAnn Del-Colle with the Phoenix Family Advocacy Center.

According to Del-Colle one in five children are affected by domestic violence.

"They don't feel like there is any way out," said Del-Colle.

She hopes teens or kids even younger will get help.

"Domestic violence begins in middle school," said Del-Colle.

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