An Alaska Airlines passenger stabbed an off-duty law enforcement officer with an improvised weapon made from pens, affidavit says

23.02.2024 - 13:53 / insider.com / Airlines

An Alaska Airlines passenger stabbed an off-duty law enforcement officer with an improvised weapon, an FBI agent's affidavit says.

Julio Alvarez Lopez was indicted on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon by a grand jury in Nevada District Court on Wednesday.

The affidavit says Lopez admitted he made the weapon before the flight, by bundling pens together with a rubber band.

He and the victim, referred to as CR, were flying from Seattle to Las Vegas on January 24. CR was sat across the aisle from Lopez, per the court document.

CR is listed in court documents as a "sworn law enforcement officer," but it is not clear for which agency he work.

A witness who sat next to Lopez said he was "fidgety" during the flight, putting his gloves on and off, and avoiding eye contact, per the affidavit.

It adds that as the plane began its initial descent, Lopez went to the bathroom "for a while" and then came out and started attacking CR.

The victim's wife was screaming and "there was blood everywhere," the witness said.

As Lopez began moving toward the front of the plane, CR ordered him to sit down before the flight crew restrained him with flex cuffs, they added.

After being taken into custody, the affidavit says Lopez said that he thought the mafia was chasing him, and he was seeking asylum in the US.

In an interview with FBI agents, Lopez said he believed CR was part of a cartel and was following him, the affidavit says. The affidavit does not specify which cartel Lopez was referring to.

It adds that Lopez said he was trying to stab CR in the eye to reach his brain and kill him.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside US working hours.

According to a motion filed Thursday, Lopez said he no longer wants his court-appointed attorney to represent him. A federal public defender requested a conference to discuss Lopez's representation.