Tempe, AZ - On March 1st, 2025, at approximately 11:15 a.m., officers from the Tempe Police Department, along with the Phoenix Fire Department, responded to a call regarding a stabbing at 2110 W Ikea Way. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man inside the fire access area which is not accessible to the public. The man indicated to officers he had been stabbed. The victim spoke Russian, and because of the language barrier, initial information about the stabbing was unclear. He was taken to a local hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition.
While officers continued to work the scene, the Tempe Police Department received a phone call from an employer. It was learned the victim and suspect were third party contractors who worked together, and that the suspect had called the employer and admitted to stabbing the victim. The employer provided police with contact information and the suspect was identified as Francisco Javier Gutierrez (DOB:10/17/1985).
It was learned that Mr. Gutierrez was possibly headed to California, and that information was provided to the Department of Public Safety. DPS located Mr. Gutierrez in the area of Quartzsite, headed westbound, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Mr. Gutierrez was booked into jail for the following charges: one count Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a class 3 felony, one count Tampering with Evidence, a class 6 felony, one count Interfering with Judicial Proceedings, a class 1 misdemeanor.
We would like to express our gratitude to the public for their assistance, and to the Department of Public Safety for their help in successfully apprehending Mr. Gutierrez. The Tempe Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety of our community and holding those responsible for violence accountable.