A 19-year-old suspect has confessed to the murder of University of Memphis student Aaron Vasquez.
"Aaron was really outgoing and really cared about everyone he met," Ashli Keffer, U of M sophomore, said. "He was one of those people that never met a stranger, and it always felt genuine."
Police arrested Cordricus Arnold March 29 at 1:30 p.m. He faces a judge today during a video arraignment at 8:30 a.m. in division 15 of general sessions court.
Vasquez, a sophomore communications major, was stabbed while taking out the trash at the El Toro Loco Bar and Grille on Kirby Road, where he worked as a baker, in the early morning of March 23. He made it back inside before collapsing in the restaurant's kitchen, where he was later found by a coworker. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene about 3:45 a.m.
The victim's wallet and keys were stolen. His vehicle, a green 1998 Toyota RAV4, was also taken the night of his death but was returned to the scene of the crime four days later.
During the investigation, police identified Arnold as a suspect. When they attempted to arrest him, Arnold fled on foot. He sustained injuries and was transported to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. Police have not released information about his injuries.
Arnold is charged with first-degree murder, evading arrest and resisting official detention.
According to an affidavit, after waving his Miranda rights, Arnold confessed to stabbing Vasquez, following him into the back of the restaurant and taking his wallet and the keys to his vehicle.
Arnold was booked March 30 at 1:05 p.m. under the name Cordrius Arnold, contrary to the spelling of his name on the affidavit, Cordricus.
Currently, he is being held without bond. He has no adult criminal record.
A similar crime occurred about seven hours before Vasquez's death behind the New China restaurant located in the same shopping center as El Toro Loco. An employee stepped outside and an unidentified man slashed his throat. He sustained injuries but survived the attack. Police said that it has not been confirmed if the two incidents are related.
"As much as I want justice for him and his family, until the verdict is in you have to assume innocence until proven guilty. You don't want to blame the wrong person for it and put him through unnecessary suffering," Keffer said.
