World · North America · 3 hrs ago
Arizona Man Charged After Scissors Attack on Fiancée, Police Say
Emily Byles says her fiancé, Zachary Velasquez, attacked her with scissors in Glendale, Arizona, about a month before their planned wedding.
Police say the attack happened on October 5, after the couple had recently moved in together.
Byles’ 11-year-old daughter called 911 after hearing screams from her mother’s bedroom.
Officers found Byles badly injured, and she was taken to hospital for surgery after a wound cut an artery in her neck.
She says she survived the attack but is recovering from surgery, while her daughters are staying with her sister and she is staying with a friend.
Police say Velasquez is in jail and faces charges including aggravated assault, intimidation and reckless handling or display of a weapon.
The case now moves forward through the criminal charges, though no further court steps are given.
An Arizona man is facing multiple charges after police say he attacked his fiancée with scissors.
Police say Emily Byles was found bleeding in a bedroom after her 11-year-old daughter called 911 on October 5.
Byles suffered a deep neck wound that hit her vertebral artery and was taken to hospital for surgery.
Court documents say Zachary Velasquez told Byles that it was God’s plan for her to die.
Byles said she was recovering from surgery while staying with a friend, and her daughters were staying with her sister.
- Who
- Zachary Velasquez is accused of attacking his fiancée, Emily Byles.
- What
- Police say he stabbed her with scissors and beat her. He faces multiple charges.
- When
- October 5. The sources do not state the year of the attack.
- Where
- Glendale, Arizona, at the couple’s home.
- Why
- Court documents say Velasquez allegedly told Byles he was a prophet and that it was God’s plan for her to die.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Byles moved to Glendale to live with Velasquez a few months before their planned wedding.
Byles’ 11-year-old daughter called 911 after hearing screaming from her parents’ bedroom.
Byles was taken to hospital, where staff said she was in critical condition and needed surgery.
Byles stayed with a friend while recovering, and her daughters stayed with her sister.
- Location
- Glendale, Arizona
- Victim
- Emily Byles
- Accused
- Zachary Velasquez
- Emergency call
- Byles’ 11-year-old daughter called 911 on October 5
- Injury
- A deep neck laceration hit Byles’ vertebral artery
- Charges
- Aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, intimidation and recklessly handling/displaying a weapon
What people are saying
I was stabbed multiple times, my artery was cut, and I was severely beaten,
I was not supposed to survive, but by God’s grace I did,