Man Charged With Murder In 2023 Christmas Day Stabbing: Stamford PD

STAMFORD, CT — A 28-year-old man was charged with murder on Monday in connection with the 2023 Christmas Day stabbing death of a city resident.

Juan Camillo Avila-Olmos wasextradited on Jan. 10 to Connecticut from Los Angeles, Calif., where he was being held as a fugitive from justice, the Stamford Police Department said. Avila-Olmos was arraigned in court and given a court-set bond of $5 million.

On Dec. 25, 2023, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the SPD Patrol Division responded to Stamford Hospital where a 32-year-old stabbing victim, later identified as Juan David Hernandez-Velasco, was undergoing treatment in the emergency room, police said, noting the man had been dropped off at the hospital by "unidentified individuals."

Hernandez-Velasco died from his injuries later that morning while in the Intensive Care Unit.

Police said according to an initial investigation, it was determined that a fight broke out at a party in the 70-block of Crystal Street in Stamford, which led to Hernandez-Velasco getting stabbed.

Avila-Olmos was at the party on the night in question, police said, and he "left Connecticut and moved" to California "shortly after this incident."

Following a lengthy investigation, Avila-Olmos was taken into custody on Dec. 21, 2024, in California without incident and with the help of the Los Angeles Police Department, Devonshire Division.

Citing an arrest warrant, News 12 Connecticut reported an altercation broke out after an argument, and a partygoer witnessed Avila-Olmos grabbing Hernandez-Velasco from behind, wrapping his arm around his neck and stabbing him in the back with a knife.

Police were able to connect Avila-Olmos to the stabbing through a review of WhatsApp messages between him and one of the party's hosts, as well as a video recording on the host's phone of a witness describing what she saw, News 12 CT reported.

Avila-Olmos's next court date is Feb. 11, according to the CT Judicial Branch website.

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