LCPD: Man house-sitting friend’s apartment stabbed when he answered door, suspect charged

Police arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with Wednesday’s stabbing on Lucero Avenue.

Gary “Niko” Szalwinski, of the 100 block of west Lucero Avenue, is charged with one second degree felony count each of attempted murder, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, and tampering with evidence.

Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the 700 block of North Main Street on Wednesday, August 10, at around 9 p.m.

There they found a 21-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest, back, head, arms and legs. He was quickly transported to University Medical Center in critical condition.

Detectives said the victim was house-sitting a friend’s apartment on the 100 block of Lucero Avenue when Szalwinski knocked on the door and stabbed the victim multiple times after the door was opened.

Szalwinski then fled the area and the victim walked a short distance to North Main Street, where he was located. Police found Szalwinski near downtown Las Cruces shortly thereafter.

Szalwinski was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.