Tampa police say a man visiting from Spain stabbed a man Friday afternoon in downtown Tampa before calling 911, claiming he had found them dead.
TAMPA, Fla. — A man visiting from out of the country is charged with murder after police found him next to a man stabbed to death in downtown Tampa, an arrest affidavit says.
Tampa police responded after 3:45 p.m. Friday to the area of East Zack Street after they received a 911 call from someone claiming they found a bloody, dead body near train tracks in the area. The caller also reportedly said they touched a knife they saw near the body and cut themselves with it.
When officers arrived, they said they found the dead body and the suspect, 41-year-old Diego Ponce Molina, holding the knife as it was covered in blood and wrapped in a cloth.
Next to the man who was stabbed to death was Ponce Molina’s backpack, which had a receipt for two knives from Outdoor World purchased a few days before the stabbing, the affidavit reads. One knife was in Ponce Molina’s pocket while the other was in his hand, according to police.
After viewing surveillance footage, detectives say they witnessed Ponce Molina walk by the man who was stabbed twice before his arm could be seen swinging up and down, before the victim is seen lying on the ground.
Officials say Ponce Molina then called 911 and family members to claim that he found the man dead.
TPD believes there was no reaction between the two men before the attack.
Police say Ponce Molina is a Spanish national who was visiting on vacation.
He is charged with premeditated first-degree murder.