GLENDALE, Arizona — Police in Glendale reported that a man has been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 62-year-old woman at a bus stop. The suspect is claiming he acted in self-defense during the incident, which occurred on the evening of April 28.
Authorities responded to the bus stop shortly after 9 p.m. to find the victim suffering from a stab wound to her neck. Despite the swift actions of bystanders who attempted to assist her, she was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Investigators were able to identify the suspect through a review of security footage from the bus the victim had been riding. The footage revealed the woman using her cellphone, which later proved pivotal in tracking down her alleged assailant.
Officer Moroni Mendez detailed the investigative process during a recent press conference, highlighting how detectives obtained cellphone data that led them to the suspect. “After extensive detective work, we identified where the victim’s cellphone went,” Mendez noted.
The investigation led police to a 27-year-old man named James Weekly, who was noted to have been in the vicinity at the time of the incident. A search warrant executed at his home uncovered the victim’s cellphone as well as clothing matching that worn by Weekly in the bus security footage.
Weekly allegedly defended his actions by claiming the woman was having a medical emergency. He stated that when he tried to help her, she swatted his hand away, which resulted in a cut on his hand. He then reportedly stabbed her in the neck with a metal pen. While he expressed remorse, Weekly claimed the stabbing was not intended to be lethal, indicating it arose from a misunderstanding.
Following the investigation, Weekly was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder. His motive and claims will likely be examined further as the case progresses.
The shocking nature of the incident has left the local community reeling, raising questions about safety in public spaces and the potential for violence in moments of crisis. As details continue to unfold, the police urge anyone with additional information about the event to come forward.