Tooele police arrest man in Halloween assault, stabbing

Tooele city police arrested a 19-year-old man Friday in connection to an assault and stabbing on Halloween night.

Police arrested Gabriel E. Mascarenas at a relative's home, where he gave up peacefully and was cooperative with police, said Lt. Paul Wimmer. He was booked into Tooele County Jail without bail on suspicion of attempted homicide, kidnapping and interruption of a communication device, according to jail personnel.

Wimmer said Mascarenas and his 17-year-old girlfriend went to the city cemetery to celebrate Halloween, but they got into an argument, and he allegedly choked her until she was unconscious. When she came to, she flagged down a motorist to take her to her mother's home, where she called 911.

Investigators believe Mascarenas then drove to a Halloween party at a Tooele home early Thursday morning but was told to leave. A fight erupted in which two men were stabbed with a box cutter, then Mascarenas fled, police said.

The girlfriend and one of the men were treated at a hospital and released. As of Friday evening, the second man was still hospitalized but is expected to recover.

mmcfall@sltrib.com