A Mexican citizen who received lawful permanent resident status in 2018 pleaded guilty Thursday, admitting that he tied three pens together with hair bands before boarding a Seattle-to-Las Vegas flight and later tried to stab a fellow passenger “through the eye to reach his brain,” federal prosecutors said.
The midair assault happened roughly 30 minutes before the aircraft was due to arrive in Las Vegas, according to a federal criminal complaint obtained by News Agency. Prosecutors say Julio Alvarez Lopez got up from his seat, went to the restroom and, after returning, abruptly began punching, striking and stabbing a passenger seated across the aisle.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene with “blood everywhere” as the victim’s wife pleaded with Lopez to stop attacking her husband. The complaint says she was also hit while trying to protect the couple’s 7-year-old son during the struggle.
Following the attack, Lopez “began walking towards the front of the aircraft,” the complaint states. One witness told investigators that as Lopez moved up the aisle, he repeatedly shouted, “I’ll only talk to the FBI.”
Federal investigators say Julio Alvarez Lopez created this makeshift weapon by securing three pens together with hair bands before using it in the onboard attack. (U.S. Department of Justice)
A sworn law enforcement officer who was on the flight ordered Lopez to sit down, after which flight attendants supplied flex cuffs and passengers helped restrain him until the plane landed, according to the complaint.
The aircraft arrived safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Lopez.
Federal court documents show injuries near the victim’s eye after prosecutors say he was attacked during the Jan. 24, 2024, flight. (U.S. Department of Justice)
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon stemming from the Jan. 24, 2024, attack.
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During an interview with FBI agents and after waiving his Miranda rights, Lopez admitted he made the weapon before boarding the aircraft by bundling three pens together with hair bands.
Investigators said Lopez told them he believed the victim, identified in court documents as C.R., had been following him during the flight. Lopez also said he believed C.R. “was the Cartel” and that he was trying to get him to stop following him.
The complaint further states Lopez told investigators he had never seen C.R. before the flight but, “planned on attacking and killing him.”
According to investigators, Lopez admitted he intended to kill the victim by stabbing him in the eye.
“I planned on attacking and killing him,” Lopez told investigators, according to the complaint.
Lopez also admitted to investigators he was trying to stab C.R. “through the eye to reach C.R.’s brain to kill him.”
According to prosecutors, the victim suffered injuries to his body and eye area that required stitches.
Court documents say witnesses noticed Lopez acting strangely before the attack. One passenger told investigators Lopez appeared “fidgety,” repeatedly put gloves on and took them off, got into his backpack several times and avoided making eye contact with other passengers.
Images released by the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with a pen knife attack on a Las Vegas flight. (U.S. Department of Justice)
A witness described Lopez as having “gray/white hair tied in a bun on the top of his head,” and wearing a sweatshirt at the time.
Another witness said Lopez stood up twice as the aircraft began descending into Las Vegas, went to the restroom, then returned to his seat before suddenly launching the attack.
The complaint also states Lopez told investigators he was seeking asylum in the United States and believed the mafia had been chasing him for several months.
Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 22.
