Phoenix Police detectives are investigating a west valley stabbing that left a man dead and another facing murder charges.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, on June 8, 2024, around 12:35 a.m., officers responded to the area of 27th Avenue and Indian School Road regarding a stabbing. Details on the call indicated that both the victim and the suspect remained in the area. When officers arrived, they encountered 37-year-old Robert Downs, who matched the description of the suspect in the stabbing. Downs was arrested without incident.
The victim, another adult male, was found with at least one stab wound. The victim did not survive his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.
Detectives responded to assume the investigation. Downs provided a self-defense claim which did not match evidence found on scene. He was ultimately booked into jail for murder. The victim has not been positively identified at this time. This identification will be determined by the Office of the Medical Examiner during their examination of the victim. Once the identification is made and the notification process can be achieved, the victim’s information can be released. Additional information related to this homicide remains part of the ongoing investigation.