74-year-old man in critical condition after being stabbed at Pioneer Park

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A 74-year-old man was stabbed at Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Park Sunday night, leaving him in critical condition, according to Salt Lake City Police.

Alex Jones, 33, was arrested early Monday morning in Salt Lake County on one charge of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury (second-degree felony).

Just before 8 p.m. on Aug. 10, Salt Lake City police officers responded to a stabbing at Pioneer Park, located at 350 S 300 W. Medical personnel began treating the victim, who had a laceration to the right side of his neck and left bicep, before taking him to the hospital.

Police said his injuries are considered life-threatening.

Officers spoke with a witness who stated that a man, identified as Jones, came up behind the victim with a knife and stabbed him in the neck. Jones reportedly then fled the scene on foot.

A separate witness heard people yelling, “stop him. He stole something!” and chased Jones down. Jones reportedly denied stealing anything but handed over a wallet and sunglasses.

When the individual returned the wallet, the victim stated that it did not belong to him. The witness then realized it was Jones’ own wallet. They later surrendered it to police.

Police were able to find Jones after the incident and took him into custody. Officers found him with a “blood-like substance” on his face and hands. Jones told police he had been hit with a metal pipe, but did not see the person who did it.

“He was making nonsensical statements stating that he sees demons and didn’t remember much of what he was doing or even where he was at when he was hit,” a probable cause affidavit states. “He denied being in any type of altercation at Pioneer Park and denied stabbing someone.”

It was reported that the crime was committed without provocation.

Jones was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges.