Attempted murder charge filed in North Las Vegas machete attack

By Gregan Wingert

Thursday, April 12, 2012 | 7:09 p.m.

The North Las Vegas man accused of brutally stabbing and hacking his girlfriend with a machete last month in a blood-drenched parking lot has been charged with attempted murder.

Armando Vergara-Martinez, 49, North Las Vegas, faces a felony count of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, according to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office.

North Las Vegas Police responded to a call of a stabbing in progress at 11:23 p.m. March 21, the arrest report said. When officers arrived at the Green Valley Grocery, 530 E. Craig Road, they heard someone shout, “He’s stabbing her,” the report said.

Drawing their guns, officers approached a small, green four-door car. On the ground next to it, they saw a Hispanic man and woman beside one another, covered in blood, the report said.

Vergara-Martinez was bleeding from a cut on his neck and lying in a pool of blood next to a woman later identified as 52-year-old Maria Gomez, according to the report.

Police say Vergara-Martinez was the woman’s boyfriend.

Gomez’s head appeared to be split open as if she had been scalped and her hands were sliced at the wrists, the report said. Her head, shirt and legs were covered in blood.

An 18- to 20-inch silver machete was found about 3 feet away from the couple, the report said.

Vergara-Martinez was placed in handcuffs, the report said.

A medical team arrived on scene shortly after the arrest.

Vergara-Martinez’s bail has been set at $150,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, April 17.