Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a 19-year-old man with the at a park in southwest Denver last week.
last Tuesday, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and five counts of felony menacing in the stabbing, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
The charges allege that on Oct. 17, Simental was at a park near West Mexico Avenue and South Raleigh Street when he became involved in an altercation with several other people. He allegedly stabbed Valdez and threatened five other people.
The stabbing occurred during what was supposed to be a fight between two girls who had argued on Facebook, the affidavit said. When two groups arrived at the park, Simental allegedly ran up to Valdez and stabbed him.
A witness told investigators that Valdez was unarmed and that it wasn’t clear why Simental stabbed him, the affidavit said.
Valdez’ friends took him to a nearby 7-Eleven store on the 1400 block of South Federal Boulevard before authorities rushed him to Denver Health medical center where he was pronounced dead.
According to an arrest affidavit for Simental, Valdez was stabbed in the left side of his chest.
Simental was identified as a suspect by Denver police detectives and arrested. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Denver District Courtroom 5D at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday for advisement.
