A man is facing years in federal prison after authorities say he fashioned a homemade weapon from pens and attacked a fellow airline passenger mid-flight while the victim's wife and young son watched in horror.
Julio Alvarez Lopez pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for the Jan. 24, 2024 attack aboard an Alaska Airlines flight traveling from Seattle to Las Vegas, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Background
The violence erupted approximately 30 minutes before the plane landed at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to court documents, Lopez punched, hit and repeatedly stabbed the victim with pens wrapped together with rubber bands—a weapon he allegedly assembled before boarding the aircraft.
A passenger seated next to Lopez told investigators he appeared "fidgety" throughout the flight, repeatedly putting gloves on and taking them off, rummaging through his backpack, and avoiding eye contact. After briefly leaving and returning to his seat, Lopez went into the airplane restroom. When he emerged, he immediately began attacking the man seated across the aisle.
"There was blood everywhere," a witness told investigators, according to the criminal complaint.
The Investigation
The victim, identified in court records as C.R., suffered stab wounds and injuries around the eye requiring stitches. His wife screamed and attempted to shield their 7-year-old son during the assault. She was also struck by Lopez during the attack, authorities said.
C.R. was later identified as a sworn law enforcement officer. Witnesses told investigators he ordered Lopez to sit down before flight attendants restrained him with flex cuffs until the aircraft landed safely in Las Vegas.
After waiving his Miranda rights, Lopez admitted to FBI agents that he chose to attack C.R. because he believed the man was watching him in a harassing manner and thought he was a cartel member following him. "The defendant stated, 'I planned on attacking and killing him,'" prosecutors wrote in the complaint. Lopez also admitted he attempted to stab C.R. "in the eye to reach [his] brain and kill him."
Lopez is a Mexican national who was granted permanent resident status in 2018.
Key Takeaways
- The attack occurred aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 436 from Seattle to Las Vegas on Jan. 24, 2024
- Lopez allegedly used pens wrapped with rubber bands as an improvised weapon
- The victim (C.R.) is a sworn law enforcement officer traveling with his family
- Lopez told authorities he believed the Mafia and cartel had been chasing him for months
- Another passenger reported seeing Lopez drop several bundled pens before walking up the aisle shouting, "I'll only talk to the FBI."
What's Next
Lopez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the assault with a dangerous weapon charge. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 22 for his sentencing hearing.