West Valley stabbing leaves one dead and one prison inmate

INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA

A 37-year-old man was arrested as a suspect in connection with a stabbing death early Saturday morning, Phoenix police said.

Robert Alan Downs, 37, is in prison charged with murder in connection with the death of another man whose identity police have not determined.

Phoenix police are investigating the case after officers were called around 12:35 a.m. between June 8 and June 27.^th Avenue and Indian School Road.

Details from the call suggested that both the victim and the suspect were still in the area, police said in a press release.

When officers arrived, they found Downs, who matched the description of the suspect in the stabbing. Downs was arrested without incident.

The victim had at least one stab wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the press release, investigators said Downs “claimed self-defense, which was inconsistent with evidence found at the scene,” and he was jailed for murder.

The identity of the victim will now be determined by the forensic medicine department, police said.

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