Austin Man Charged with Stabbing Roommate Over Tortilla Dispute

Austin Man Arrested After Stabbing Roommate Over Tortilla Dispute

AUSTIN, Texas — A 48-year-old man was arrested on Friday after allegedly stabbing his roommate during a heated dispute over heating tortillas. The suspect, identified as Jose Luis Bustos-Palomos, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon family violence, which is a second-degree felony.

Incident Details

The sequence of events unfolded on Thursday, September 5, when officers received a call to South Austin Hospital regarding a stabbing victim. The injured man informed police that he was stabbed in the parking lot of La Mexicana, located at 5717 S Interstate 35 Northbound Service Road, on the evening of September 5.

According to court documents, the victim had known Bustos-Palomos prior to living together. They had been roommates for approximately one year. On the day of the incident, the two were enjoying drinks and having a barbecue outside their home before the situation took a violent turn.

Dispute Escalation

The victim explained that after some time, he went inside the house. Bustos-Palomos followed him and began preparing to heat some tortillas. The victim told him that there was no need to heat the tortillas, which seemed to anger Bustos-Palomos for reasons that remain unclear. This disagreement escalated quickly, leading Bustos-Palomos to attack the victim. Witnesses reported that Bustos-Palomos tackled the victim and pinned him to the ground. The altercation ended after others separated them, and they both retreated to their respective rooms to sleep.

Stabbing Incident

In the morning, around 7:34 a.m., the victim was picked up for work and sat in the rear passenger seat of a van. As the van entered La Mexicana‘s parking lot, the victim spotted Bustos-Palomos approaching, assuming he was also getting a ride to work as they typically did. However, to his shock, Bustos-Palomos allegedly stabbed him in the thigh with an unknown object as he exited the vehicle.

The victim recounted that Bustos-Palomos attempted to swing at him again and struck his other leg during the fray. Chasing him, Bustos-Palomos allegedly yelled, “I’m going to kill you.” Fortunately, the victim managed to lock himself back inside the van and was later taken home by a friend, where his brother drove him to the hospital.

Injuries and Legal Action

Upon examination at the hospital, police noted that the victim had lacerations measuring approximately one inch on both legs. As a result of the incident, Bustos-Palomos has been arrested and faces serious charges related to aggravated assault.

Call for Information

Authorities are asking anyone with additional information regarding this stabbing incident to reach out to the Austin Police Department at 512-472-8477.

The situation serves as a disturbing reminder of how quickly disputes can escalate into violence, even over seemingly trivial matters like heating tortillas.