Police say the attack happened without warning on a busy city street.
TAMPA, Fla. — A man visiting from overseas is accused of fatally stabbing another man in downtown Tampa on Friday afternoon, authorities said, in an attack investigators say happened without any prior interaction between the two.
Police identified the suspect as Diego Ponce-Molina, 41, who was taken into custody at the scene and charged with first-degree murder with a weapon. Officers responded shortly before 4 p.m. to the 800 block of East Zack Street, where they found an adult male with stab wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and had not been publicly identified as of Monday.
Investigators said the incident unfolded quickly in the late afternoon hours along a stretch of downtown that includes historic buildings and transit access points. Officers were called after reports of an unresponsive person. When they arrived, they found the victim lying on the ground with injuries consistent with a stabbing. Ponce-Molina was still nearby when officers reached the scene and was detained without incident.
Detectives later determined that the suspect approached the victim and attacked him without any known confrontation. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement that the lack of interaction between the two men has made establishing a motive more difficult. “At this point, there is no evidence that the victim and suspect knew each other,” Bercaw said, adding that the investigation remains active.
Authorities have not released the victim’s name, saying identification is still pending notification of family members. Investigators are working to piece together the victim’s movements before the attack and determine whether surveillance cameras or witnesses can provide additional details. The sudden nature of the assault has raised questions about what led up to the encounter.
The location of the stabbing sits on the northern edge of downtown Tampa, an area that blends office buildings, historic sites, and transportation corridors. East Zack Street runs near Tampa Union Station and several preserved structures that reflect the city’s early 20th-century development. The area typically sees steady foot traffic during business hours.
Police records indicate that Ponce-Molina remained at the scene after the stabbing, a detail investigators say helped lead to his quick arrest. He is being held in the Hillsborough County jail and is expected to face formal court proceedings in the coming days. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether additional charges could be filed as the case develops.
Officials said detectives are continuing to review evidence, including forensic results and witness statements, to better understand the circumstances of the attack. Authorities are also examining whether the suspect’s status as a visitor played any role in the events leading up to the incident.
Residents and workers in the downtown area described a heavy police presence Friday afternoon as officers secured the scene. Some nearby businesses temporarily restricted access while investigators collected evidence and documented the area.
The case remains under investigation, and police said additional details will be released as they become available. A first court appearance for Ponce-Molina is expected this week.
Author note: Last updated April 14, 2026.