2 arrested in connection with fatal stabbing near Miami-Dade mobile home community

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Two people were arrested on Saturday One person was stabbed to death during a fight Authorities confirmed Monday that he was in a remote mobile home community near a pond in western Miami-Dade County.

Julissa Melo said the stabbing victim was her friend Richie Chavarrias, a well-loved friend in the small community just east of Krome Boulevard and the Everglades Wildlife Management Area Preserve.

Sunday morning report:

“I was shocked when I heard he died,” Melo said. “Everybody loved it. He always talked to everyone. It was funny. He loved helping everyone. Everyone here really loved it.”

Miami-Dade police officers located 36-year-old Eduan Salmon and 57-year-old Heriberto German Toledo Perez at 14601 NW 185 St. He said they detained him at and Miami-Dade Fire Department personnel used a helicopter to fly 30-year-old Chavarrias to HCA. He died from his injuries at Aventura Hospital in Florida, after suffering three large holes in his upper body.

The investigation evolved quickly after police located a witness who observed both Perez and Salmon washing a bloody knife in the sink shortly after the attack.

The witness made a formal statement to the MDPD Homicide Bureau, which led detectives to further investigate the two men, according to the arrest report.

Another eyewitness told police the stabbing occurred as he and two other victims were walking by Perez’s property, the report said.

According to the victim’s statement, police said Salmon emerged from the gated residence and began yelling at the group in Spanish, waving a kitchen knife and threatening to “f*ck them.”

Moments later, police said Perez emerged from the home and stabbed Chavarrias in the back. As Chavarrias fell to the ground, both suspects reportedly fled into the property.

Authorities confirmed that both Perez and Salmon were detained for questioning. They said both men were read their Miranda rights during separate interviews and waived them before giving conflicting accounts of events.

Police said Perez admitted to drinking Salmon beer throughout the day, from 1pm on Friday until the time of the incident. He claimed that at one point he found Salmon lying outside the gated residence and helped him inside, denying he was involved in any physical fight.

However, Salmon offered a different version of events.

He told detectives that he started drinking with Perez around 5 p.m., and was sitting in the yard with his eyes closed when he was suddenly attacked by several unidentified people, including Chavarrias, according to the report.

Investigators said Salmon pulled a large kitchen knife from his back pocket to defend himself, but claimed the attackers escaped without him harming anyone. He then entered Perez’s home and reported the alleged assault to her.

Responding officers were able to locate Perez and Salmon on the property where they were apprehended. While the suspects were being detained, police said a witness approached them and pointed at Perez and said, “He was the one who stabbed my friend.”

While the motive for the attack remains unclear, both suspects face charges in Chavarrias’ death. Detectives said they continue to collect evidence as they work to piece together the events that led to the violent encounter.

Jail records show both men face charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Both suspects appeared in court Sunday, and a Miami-Dade judge held them without bond.

Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.