TAMPA, Fla. — A local community is grappling with shock and grief after 19-year-old Arnold Gutierrez was fatally stabbed early Sunday morning at an apartment complex in Carrollwood, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The incident, which unfolded at the Northgreen at Carrollwood Apartments on Northgreen Avenue, has devastated family and friends of the young man.
Gutierrez was reportedly responding to a distress call from friends who felt unsafe in the presence of the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Michael Aldana. Authorities have since arrested Aldana, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with Gutierrez’s death.
Virginia Rosa, Gutierrez’s mother, described her son as a compassionate individual who was always ready to support his friends. She recalled how Arnold would often offer their home as a safe haven for his friends. “They knew they had a home to sleep at night, he would bring his friends,” Rosa stated, highlighting her son’s generosity.
Elena Gutierrez, Arnold’s sister, painted a vivid picture of the events leading up to the tragedy. She explained that Arnold was asleep at home around 1 a.m. when he received a call for help from a friend. Despite the option to call the police, Arnold chose to intervene directly, a decision that tragically led to his death. According to Elena, after Arnold helped his friends safely exit the apartment, he was attacked by Aldana while attempting to get into his car.
In the aftermath of the stabbing, his family rushed to the hospital only to learn the harrowing news that Arnold had been fatally wounded, having been stabbed multiple times. “We weren’t prepared for a 19-year-old to be murdered, the way that he was, to the extent that he was,” Elena said, expressing the profound shock and unpreparedness of the family to face such a violent loss.
The sudden and violent nature of Arnold’s death has left his family not only in mourning but also struggling with the logistical and financial strain of arranging a funeral. Elena mentioned that neither a funeral home nor a cemetery had been confirmed yet, illustrating the family’s state of disarray and grief.
In an act of profound generosity amidst their mourning, Arnold’s mother made the decision to donate her son’s eyes. “They told me someone needs eyes. I wanted to say no, but I want to see those eyes again. And I will know, that’s my son’s eyes,” she shared, finding some solace in the potential for her son to help another even in death.
As the investigation continues, the Gutierrez family emphasizes their desire for justice and accountability for all involved in Arnold’s untimely death. The loss of such a young life in a senseless act of violence reverberates through their community, leaving friends and family to cherish the memory of a man described by many as a loyal friend and loving son.