- A custodian at the University of Utah is facing an attempted murder charge.
- Jose Ramirez-Porchas allegedly stabbed a co-worker, claiming he "just wanted to kill."
- Ramirez is already on probation for theft and scheduled for mental health court next week.
SALT LAKE CITY — A part-time custodian at the University of Utah was charged Thursday with stabbing a co-worker because he "just wanted to kill."
Jose Alfredo Ramirez-Porchas, 21, of Salt Lake City, is charged in 3rd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony.
The attack happened July 30 in the Fort Douglas area. While working their custodian jobs, a 19-year-old man "felt something hit the right side of his neck. (He) felt pain and looked behind him to see Ramirez with a very serious look on his face and a broken piece of something black on the floor, which (the victim) believed to be from a knife," according to charging documents. "(The victim) stated that the look on Ramirez's face was something he had never seen before and it caused him fear."
The man later told police that "Ramirez didn't say anything to him during the incident and (the victim) has no idea what would have prompted the attack, as they are friends. (He) had a puncture wound to his neck that was bleeding and another small scratch on his neck," the charges state.
Police reviewed surveillance video that showed Ramirez attacking his friend and the friend running out of the building as Ramirez briefly chased after him.
"When asked by detectives what happened in the custodial closet, Ramirez replied, 'Uh, I was just waiting to kill him.' But he didn't know why. Ramirez stated, 'I just hear stuff goes through my mind and I kind of suspect that it is the wrong thing,'" according to the charges.
Ramirez further told police "his mind was blank" and "he just wanted to kill," the charges allege. "Ramirez admitted he had decided the previous night he was going to kill (the man), so he collected a knife from home and brought it to work with him specifically to kill (the man).
"Ramirez admitted that if he had the opportunity again, he would try to kill (the man). Ramirez admitted that he didn't feel sorry for what he had done," the charges state.
Prosecutors noted that Ramirez is already on probation for being convicted of theft last year and is scheduled to make an appearance in mental health court next week. In that case, he is accused of trying to steal more than $280,000 worth of jewelry from a store.
