Austin Man Charged In Machete Attack

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — An Austin man faces 20 years in prison after attacking another with a machete thinking the victim was involved in a home invasion, according to a published report.

Referencing a recently unveiled arrest affidavit, the Austin American-Statesman reported that Samuel Diaz-Parra, 58, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

The case sates to late January along the 12300 block of Hymeadow Drive, located in a part of Austin that is in Williamson County. The victim told police he answer a knock on the door of his apartment only to be allegedly grabbed by the throat and pushed into the apartment by Diaz-Parra. The victim said Diaz-Parra's son, whom he knew, stood behind his father during the incident.

The victim was thrown onto a couch while Diaz-Parra is alleged to have inflicted a shallow gash on the victim's chest before putting the machete to the victim's throat, the Statesman reported. As the victim fought his attacker, he grabbed the blade to prevent being stabbed, cutting on of his finger so deeply as to later require surgery, according to the affidavit.

There had been a home invasion in the apartment complex prior to the incident, and Diaz-Parra and his son believed the victim to have been involved — an accusation the victim denied, according to the report. The victim had arrived at the son's apartment asking for a cigarette before three masked men attempted to assault and rob Diaz-Parra's son, the victim told police.

Diaz-Parra was booked into the Williamson County Jail where he is being held on a $100,000 bail.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

Samuel Diaz-Parra booking photo via Williamson County Jail records