A Nicaraguan migrant is accused of chasing down his roommate and fatally stabbing him as the roommate cried out “that guy just killed me,” authorities said.
The suspect, Edy Jose Rivas-Rizo, from Nicaragua, now faces a first-degree murder charge after allegedly stabbing his roommate to death with a machete in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also lodged a detainer asking officials in Broward County, Florida, to not release Rivas-Rizo or turn him over to ICE.
BROWARD BACKSTABBER: This Biden-released illegal alien STABBED his roommate to death with a MACHETE.
Edy Jose Rivas-Rizo, from Nicaragua, chased his roommate with the machete, stabbed him, and fought him on the ground. His victim’s last words were “that guy just killed me” as he… pic.twitter.com/uGwcmtl6OC
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 11, 2026
Rivas-Rizo illegally entered the United States through California in April 2022 and was released by the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said.
“His victim would still be alive if it weren’t for the Biden Administration releasing him into the country,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “We will work with our partners in Florida to make sure this killer is removed from our country. Deporting illegal aliens saves lives.”
The fatal stabbing occurred around 1:15 p.m. Aug. 2 in Hallandale Beach, Fla., near Hollywood, Fla., in a mobile home park.
Rivas-Rizo, 27, was allegedly caught on surveillance footage chasing after his roommate with a machete, the Miami Herald reported, also omitting Rivas-Rizo’s immigration status.
Rivas-Rizo caught up to the victim and slashed him with the knife, “causing a large amount of blood to spray on the street,” the affidavit states.
A brief struggle ensued on the ground, and the victim reportedly got up and walked “approximately 15 yards” before collapsing, police said.
Local 10 News reported the victim was stabbed in the armpit area. His name was redacted from an arrest report.
Two witnesses reportedly took the knife from Rivas-Rizo, who fled inside the mobile home and tried to hide the knife.
One of the witnesses called 911 and police arrived to find a man “bleeding profusely” from a large wound. The stabbing victim was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A witness told police that the victim’s last words were “that guy just killed me” as he pointed at Rivas-Rizo.
Officers ordered Rivas-Rizo to come outside and he walked out shirtless and covered in blood, according to the affidavit. He had a large cut on his hand and was taken to a local hospital before being taken into custody.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the mobile home and found “a large amount of blood.” They recovered the machete wedged between two doors in a storage area.
According to the affidavit, the handle was visible, and investigators observed blood on and around the machete, including on the blade.
Rivas-Rizo initially told police the victim attacked him first and that he “accidentally fell on the blade” during the struggle. He denied chasing him and said he initially retrieved a machete because he feared for his life.
Investigators showed him the surveillance footage that allegedly captured him chasing the victim and striking him with the machete
Police said he “admitted to chasing him but stated that he meant to strike him with the broad side of the blade, not the sharp edge,” Local 10 reported.
According to jail records, he remains lodged in the Broward County Main Jail without bond.
