On August 19th, 2025, an incident occurred at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Student Chris Aguilar stabbed another student named Michael Montoya II multiple times during an altercation. Later at noon, Michaell Montoya II was pronounced dead. According to Telemundo AZ on TikTok , suspect Chris Aguilar is sixteen years old and is born on October 21st, 2008. On MaxPreps, it shows that Chris Aguilar was a varsity baseball player. This year was Aguilar’s junior year before he made a decision that would change his whole life.
The victim’s name is Michael Montoya II. He was born on August 15th, 2009 according to a flyer posted by his family. Before the incident occurred, Michael Montoya II had just turned sixteen years old. This year was Michael Montoya II’s sophomore year; he was about halfway done with high school but because of this incident, he will never be able to complete it.
Before the incident took place, according to an article written by David Baker on azfamily.com, witnesses testified that the motive of the whole incident was because Michael Montoya II had robbed Chris Aguilar of his handgun the previous day. There are more witnesses who also state that, allegedly, the following day, Chris Aguilar and his twin brother were talking about killing the victim. On the day of the incident, witnesses state from an article written by David Baker on azfamily.com, that during that day suspect Chris Aguilar made statements about killing the victim, Chris Aguilar had changed his seat in class to sit next to him.
According to an article written by Brent Corrado and Fox Staff on fox10pheonix.com, Chris Aguilar struck at around 11 am. Chris Aguilar and Michael Montoya II started to fight during class, and what looked like a normal fight would turn into something deadly. While students in that class were recording the fight, Chris Aguilar pulls out a hand pocket knife and starts to stab Michael several times. Soon after, the school staff alerted the school safety officer who promptly detained Chris Aguillar. On people.com an article written by Charna Flan states Chris Aguilar allegedly tried to flee but was detained shortly after.
After the event, the school went on lockdown where students were later released early from school. Then, after the stabbing, reports state the suspect was then taken to the hospital because his hand was bleeding from stabbing the victim . The victim was also taken to the hospital after the incident where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to Brent Corrado and Fox staff article on fox10pheonix.com on the 28th of August Chris Aguilar was sentenced at first to second degree murder, but ended up being switched to first degree murder by a grand jury. Then on September 3rd of the same year, Chris Aguilar pled not guilty to first degree murder in court. Chris Aguilar’s bond is, as of the 18th of September, 2025, set to $500,000 in cash. As of writing there are no new updates to the case, only that Chris Aguilar stays in custody while his housing gets sorted out.
Outside Maryvale High School,, you will see flowers and other items members of the community have left for Michael Montoya. On September 6th 2025, the family of the victim posted an invite in memory of Michael Montoya II. The invite was for their community and called the “Celebration of Life”. The victim’s family hosted an open invite of a public viewing for Michael Montoya II at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and occurred at 1627 N51st Ave, AZ 85035.
To this day Michael Montoyage II’s family and his girlfriend post him on TikTok with all the great memories they had with him. Still some people say it’s Michael Montoya II’s fault for stealing the handgun in the first place. Michael Montoya II didn’t deserve to die, but because of Chris Aguilar’s decision, he is. Chris Aguilar has to live with this for the rest of his life, it’ll follow him wherever he decides to go. There are still people on social media who will question why no student acted while Michael Montoya II was getting stabbed, why they were just taking a video of the altercation. What would you have done?