Man arrested in connection with stabbing of 16-year-old on SLCC Taylorsville campus

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) — A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a stabbing that hospitalized a 16-year-old boy on Wednesday.

Fernando Jesus Bautista Rodriguez, 22, has been arrested and is currently being held on one count of attempted homicide by assault. He has not been formally charged yet.

On Sept. 3, 2025, Utah Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies responded to the Salt Lake Community College Redwood Campus in Taylorsville on reports of a stabbing. A 16-year-old boy was walking on the west side of the campus when he was attacked shortly after 8:30 p.m.

According to the arrest statement, the victim sustained more than 15 stab wounds, and one of the suspects brandished a firearm during the attack. The victim was taken to a local hospital and released within a few hours. Authorities determined that the stabbing was most likely gang-related.

An investigator with the Utah State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) was able to identify the vehicle the suspects were driving as a 2010 GMC Terrain. The SBI agent was able to locate the son registered owner of the vehicle, 22-year-old Bautista Rodriguez.

On Sept. 4, investigators spoke with Bautista Rodriguez’s parent, who admitted that he had the vehicle during the time of the stabbing. The parent gave police permission to review Ring camera footage from the residence, which reportedly confirmed he had the vehicle.

Bautista Rodriguez allegedly fled the residence before detectives “secured the perimeter.” Police asked his parent to call him, and police negotiated with Rodriguez Bautista to return to the residence. The 22-year-old returned on foot, but documents say he had left his cell phone with another male who is still outstanding.

Police placed Bautista Rodriguez under arrest and interviewed him. Documents say that he initially denied his involvement before admitting to stabbing the victim with a broken glass bottle. Bautista Rodriguez alleged that the victim had thrown “gang signs” at him and his friend, causing the attack.

The 22-year-old said he “did not intend to kill the victim,” but knew that the attack could have been deadly. Bautista Rodriguez said he was glad that the victim did not die.

Bautista Rodriguez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, where is currently being held without bail. Documents say that he was on probation at the time of his arrest.