3 arrested after stabbing investigation, brief standoff
Gabrielle Lopez
UPDATE (June 23, 2026) — ABC-7 obtained arrest affidavits detailing a stabbing at a Vista market store. Documents allege 20-year-old Isaiah Jonathan Cardenas is responsible for stabbing and injuring a man.
According to documents, Cardenas allegedly punched, kicked and stabbed a man inside a Vista Market store in Far East El Paso. It happened June 20 at 8:49 p.m., documents said.
Video recorded at the store showed him allegedly stabbing the victim multiple times in the back and stomach area, according to documents. The video also showed Cardenas allegedly going leaving in a dark SUV.
The victim’s injuries weren’t life threatening, documents said.
Later, at 10:45 p.m., the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fight at a home on Sun Beam Drive, which is about a 10 minute drive north of the Vista Market.
According to a separate arrest affidavit, during a cookout at a nearby house, Cardenas and an unnamed “involved other” talked about how they just fought someone.
Marisela Zamora dropped off her nephew at a home on Sun Beam Drive after the cookout. She alleged Cardenas and the involved other then assaulted her nephew, documents said.
Zamora tried to separate them and started recording the incident with her phone, documents said. She was able to separate her nephew and left the area with him while recording.
She said either Cardenas or the involved other took her phone, documents said. After she left, she said she wanted her phone back. Documents said Cardenas allegedly threw the phone into a fire. A deputy later found the phone, which was destroyed.
Deputies could not find Cardenas or the involved area because they left the area, documents said.
At the home, deputies saw a dark SUV similar to the one seen at the grocery store at the time of the stabbing, documents said. The SUV was registered under Cardenas’ mother, documents said.
Deputies met with his mother, Janet Garcia, who also owned the Sunbeam Drive property, according to documents. While searching the property, deputies found white shoes matching what Cardenas allegedly wore in the video seen at the store.
Deputies noted the shoes also had possible blood, documents said.
Deputies compared Cardenas’ mugshot and video from Vista Market. Documents said both showed a distinctive back tattoo led officials to believe he stabbed the man.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrested three people following a stabbing investigation at a Far East El Paso grocery store. The suspects were arrested after a brief standoff at an apartment in West El Paso.
Saturday, deputies went to the Vista Market grocery store off Montana Avenue in Far East El Paso at 8:51 p.m. Deputies learned four people left the area before law enforcement showed up, EPCSO said.
The preliminary investigation revealed two men allegedly assaulted two people. During the alleged assault, one of the suspects stabbed both victims and caused serious injuries, EPCSO said.
EPCSO’s Special Operations Unit then launched an investigation to find the suspects and victims. The sheriff’s office said the victims were at a local hospital getting treatment.
Deputies found a suspect vehicle behind a mobile home at the 15500 block of Sun Beam Drive, which is in the Homestead Meadows North area, EPCSO said. A search warrant was obtained and investigators found evidence in the vehicle.
Sunday, deputies found two people involved in the alleged assault, EPCSO said.
Law enforcement arrested 20-year-old Isaiah Jonathan Cardenas, EPCSO said. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing bodily injury and criminal mischief. His bond totaled $267,500.
They also arrested 22-year-old Felipe De Jesus Cardenas, who was charged with assault causing bodily injury and a $15,000 bond.
Isaiah Cardenas (left) and Felipe Cardenas (right)(Courtesy: EPCSO)
Further investigation led deputies to an apartment at the Retreat at Mesa Hills, EPCSO said. Both suspects were there, and Isaiah Cardenas went into the apartment.
EPCSO said he, his brother, sister and mother barricaded themselves into the apartment.
Investigators got a search warrant for the apartment, and EPCSO’s Crisis Negotiations Team and SWAT went to help with the operation.
After a brief standoff, the family surrendered.
A third person, 24-year-old Zaithed Janet Cardenas was charged with hindering apprehension of a wanted person with a $3,000 bond, EPCSO said.
Zaithed Janet Cardenas(Courtesy: EPCSO)
All three arrested booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.