Osceola County Sheriff’s Office deputies Monday charged 22-year-old Ray Andres Lopez, of 1740 Quail Ridge Loop, Kissimmee, with first-degree murder for his involvement in a 2009 stabbing homicide as he awaits trial in the Osceola County Jail for attempted murder.

During a house party Oct. 9, 2009, at 104 Alameda Drive in Buenaventura Lakes, deputies responded to calls at around 11:30 p.m. about a large fight. Upon arrival, deputies located an unresponsive male in the driveway. Deputies identified two stabbing victims, Brandon Knibbs, then 17, and Elmer Ardon Jr.

Knibbs was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries. Ardon, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The following day, detectives arrested Lopez and charged him with attempted murder for stabbing Knibbs, who had attended the house party. Since the incident, probable cause was obtained from the investigation, and as a result, Lopez was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ardon.

“They can now take both charges and put them together,” Twis Lizasuain, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, said.

Detectives believe the motive for the stabbing was a fight that escalated, Lizasuain said.

The homeowner, Maikel Rodriguez, told deputies at the time his daughter invited her friends to the house and they brought alcoholic beverages with them. Deputies observed open alcoholic containers in the residence. Rodriguez was charged with an open house party and was booked into the Osceola County Jail.

At the time, a juvenile attending the party was arrested for violation of probation. In addition, Enroy Grant was arrested when he attempted to interfere with the investigation. Grant was charged with resisting with violence, resisting without violence, harm/threats to a public servant and battery on a law enforcement officer. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail.

No other suspects are being sought in this case, Lizasuain said.