HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – A 27-year-old man out of Broward County, Florida, was arrested earlier in August on a charge of premeditated murder after allegedly hunting down his roommate in a mobile home park and fatally slashing the victim with a machete.
On August 2nd at approximately 1:15 p.m., Hallandale Police officers responded to a reported stabbing at a mobile home park where they discovered a male victim on the ground “bleeding profusely” from a laceration located along his chest and near his armpit. First responders rushed the victim to an area hospital where he was declared deceased approximately 30 minutes after his arrival.
While officers were working the scene, witnesses reportedly informed police that a man identified as 27-year-old Edy Rivas Rizo was behind the alleged fatal attack and was inside of his residence at the mobile home park. When officers approached the suspect’s residence, he reportedly emerged without incident upon being ordered to do so and was allegedly covered in blood while harboring a deep cut on his right hand.
Surveillance video which captured the alleged incident was obtained by police, which reportedly showed Rizo following the victim as the victim ran away, with the suspect allegedly holding a “large, machete-style knife,” according to authorities. Per the incident report, the surveillance footage showed Rizo attack the victim with the machete resulting in “a large amount of blood” to splatter onto the street.
Two witnesses reportedly broke up the ensuing struggle between the suspect and victim, with the victim being able to walk for approximately 15 yards before falling to the ground. The one witness who stayed with the victim reportedly told investigators that prior to the victim collapsing, he gestured toward Rizo and said, “That guy just killed me.”
As for the witness who stayed with Rizo following the alleged incident, the aforementioned witness informed authorities that Rizo and the victim were apparently roommates. While being questioned by detectives following his arrest, Rizo reportedly claimed the victim had physically assaulted him inside the home while brandishing a knife prior to the fatal altercation. When police questioned Rizo about the victim’s fatal injuries, he allegedly told police the victim “accidentally fell on the blade” during a struggle outside. Rizo further denied pursuing the victim outside, according to authorities.
When police confronted Rizo with the surveillance footage which reportedly contradicted his version of events, the suspect allegedly changed his story, admitting to chasing after the victim but only intended to “strike him with the broad side of the blade” and not the sharpened edge.
Rizo remains in custody at the Broward County Jail and is being held without bond. His next slated court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
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