GLENDALE, Ariz. — A 27-year-old man is facing charges in connection with the death of a 62-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed at a bus stop. The suspect, identified as James Weekly, allegedly claimed he acted in self-defense during the incident, which occurred on April 28 around 9 p.m.
According to the Glendale Police Department, officers responded to reports of a stabbing and found the victim with a severe neck wound. Despite immediate assistance from bystanders, she was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital.
Authorities launched an investigation and turned to security footage from the bus the victim had been riding. They learned that the woman had been using her cell phone prior to the attack, yet the device was not located at the scene. Officer Moroni Mendez explained that investigators pursued cell phone data to trace its last known location, which eventually led them to Weekly.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Weekly’s home, where they found the missing cell phone. Mendez noted that the clothing discovered in the suspect’s residence matched what he was seen wearing on the bus.
Weekly purportedly stated that he intervened when the victim appeared to be having a medical episode. He claimed that after he attempted to help her, she swatted his hand away, which resulted in a cut to his own hand. In a moment of panic, he said he stabbed her with a metal pen, asserting it was not his intention to kill her.
In subsequent statements, Weekly expressed remorse and characterized the stabbing as a “misunderstanding,” emphasizing that he simply desired to inflict pain as a reflection of his own injury.
He has been charged with second-degree murder and remains in custody as the investigation continues. The police are working to understand the full context of the encounter and any additional circumstances that may have contributed to this tragic event.
The community is grappling with the shock of the incident, as it underscores ongoing concerns about safety in public spaces.