Stabbing suspect in Longview found, knife seized

LONGVIEW, Wash. - After nearly a week of searching, Cowlitz County Sheriff detectives have arrested the person they believe to be responsible for the Sunday stabbing of a visitor to a largely Cuban apartment complex in west Longview.

The victim of the stabbing to the chest - identified as 37-year-old Amet Asencio-Marquez of Portland - has survived and on Tuesday was interviewed by a Cowlitz County Sheriff's detectives. Due to the serious injury the victim received, he was able to answer very few questions at the time of the stabbing.

Now recuperating at a Portland hospital, detectives said Asencio-Marquez "was able to clearly communicate the events surrounding the stabbing."

End result? Deputies returned to the scene and served a search warrant at the apartment Friday. Evidence was collected at the scene that included a knife believed to be the one used during the stabbing.

The suspect in the case, 32-year-old Alexander Rodriguez-Gonzales of Portland, was found a few blocks away and arrested. He was booked for felony assault in first degree with $200,000 bail.

Detectives said they were aided in their interviews of witnesses by a court-certified Spanish-speaking interpreter. On Monday KATU was told that deputies had tried to question the apartment's residents immediately after the stabbing, but could not communicate with them in English. As such, no description of the suspect was available at that time.