DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — A 48-year-old man is facing a first-degree attempted murder charge after allegedly stabbing his longtime neighbor with a modified knife this past weekend in Deerfield Beach, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
It happened on Saturday near at Century Village’s East community, located in the 300 block of Newport Terrace, where Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said they responded to reports of a stabbing around 11:40 a.m.
According to deputies, the victim had just returned home from shopping when they said Paul Anthony Vargas Arana ran down the stairs wearing surgical gloves and wielding a black-handled knife with razor blades welded to it.
They said the attack occurred as the victim walked toward his apartment with his wife.
The victim, who suffers from lung disease and requires oxygen, sustained a stab wound to his left chest that punctured his lung and caused internal bleeding, according to Vargas Arana’s arrest report.
Witnesses said the victim’s wife ran inside her house and picked up a metal pipe before striking Vargas Arana in the head to defend her husband while Vargas Arana continued hitting and choking him, the report stated.
Witnesses reported hearing the victim ask “Paulie, why are you doing this?” before losing consciousness, according to the report.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they said Vargas Arana was found standing over the victim.
The victim later told investigators he had no explanation for the attack other than possible mental health issues, despite knowing Vargas Arana for nearly a decade as an upstairs neighbor in the same building, the report stated.
Authorities said both men were transported to Broward Health North for treatment — the victim for life-threatening injuries and Vargas Arana for a head injury and wrist laceration.
BSO said the agency’s Violent Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.
A motive for the stabbing remains unclear at this time.
As of Tuesday, Vargas Arana was being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail.
The victim remains hospitalized as of Tuesday evening.
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