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WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police say a man who fatally stabbed another man may have acted in self defense.
About 5:10 p.m. Saturday, Rick Anthony Sanchez, 41, of South Jordan, was fatally stabbed in the chest inside a duplex at 3216 S. 2040 West. He was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to a local hospital. As of Sunday afternoon, no one had been arrested in connection with the incident.
West Valley police released a prepared statement Sunday saying that Sanchez and the alleged stabber, who lives at the house where the confrontation occurred, had been arguing "over some family issues" in the driveway.
The homeowner reportedly told Sanchez to leave and then walked inside his house. But Sanchez followed, according to police.
Sanchez "started to assault the suspect and other family members," police stated. There was at least one other man and a woman inside the duplex at the time, according to police. The homeowner repeatedly told Sanchez to leave, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku. But as he continued to come at the homeowner, the homeowner stabbed him with a kitchen knife, Vainuku said.
"As of last night, detectives did not have enough evidence to book the suspect for homicide. Evidence exists that the suspect may have been defending himself and/or other family members inside his home," according to the statement.
The alleged stabber's name was not released Sunday. Police said it was still unclear whether he and Sanchez were actually related or if Sanchez was just a close family acquaintance.
Utah State Court records show Sanchez was convicted in 2013 of "disorderly conduct involving fighting, violence or threat." He was sentenced to probation and ordered to undergo substance abuse and domestic violence treatment programs, according to court records. He was also convicted of aggravated assault and interfering with an arrest in 1994 in separate cases, according to court records.
