STAMFORD, Conn. — Nearly a year after the fatal stabbing of 32-year-old Juan David Hernandez-Velasco, police have arrested a suspect in connection with the incident, Stamford police announced on Saturday.
Juan Camilo Avila-Olmos, 28, was taken into custody on December 21, 2024, in Los Angeles with assistance from the LAPD’s Devonshire Division. Investigators allege that Avila-Olmos fled Connecticut shortly after the December 25, 2023, stabbing, which occurred during a party at a residence on 77 Crystal Street.
The case began when police responded to Stamford Hospital around 3:30 a.m. on the day of the incident. Hernandez-Velasco had been dropped off at the emergency room by unidentified individuals after sustaining critical injuries in a fight outside the party. Despite emergency surgery, he died later that morning in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Detectives spent the past year conducting interviews, collecting witness statements, and analyzing evidence, culminating in an arrest warrant issued by the Stamford Superior Court on December 20, 2024. The warrant charges Avila-Olmos with murder and sets bond at $5 million. He is currently being held as a fugitive from justice while undergoing extradition to Connecticut.
Police Chief Timothy Shaw commended investigators for their “tireless efforts” and expressed gratitude to the Los Angeles Police Department and the Stamford State’s Attorney’s Office for their support.