Out-of-state fugitive arrested after fatal stabbing in Phoenix

Police on Monday released the name of an out-of-state fugitive who was arrested during the investigation into a fatal stabbing in Phoenix last week.

Donald Coleman, 59, was not charged for the stabbing, but he was booked into jail for an outstanding homicide warrant, the Phoenix Police Department said. Police didn’t say which state was looking for him.

The investigation remains active, but preliminary information indicates that Coleman may have stabbed 40-year-old Christian Yepiz Fonseca in self-defense the morning of July 24, police said.

Officers responded to an aggravated assault call near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road about 4:20 a.m. and found Fonseca suffering from stab wounds.

Fire department personnel took him to the hospital in extremely critical condition, but he did not survive his injuries.

The suspect, who was later identified as Coleman, was located and detained at a nearby hotel.

According to preliminary information from detectives, Coleman was “cornered and assaulted” by Fonseca and five other men before he stabbed Fonseca.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kevin Stone contributed to this report.

This is an updated version of a story originally published July 24, 2026.

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