A Nicaraguan national in the United States illegally faces two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide after allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend with a machete in Green Bay, Wisconsin. David Joel Mairena-Garcia, 29, used a key to enter the woman’s home and immediately launched the violent assault without warning, later telling police he “just wanted to kill them.”
The Attack Unfolds
According to the criminal complaint, Mairena-Garcia entered the residence using a key and struck the male victim, a 23-year-old Green Bay man, with a machete in the shoulder, forearm, and shin. He then turned on his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, with whom he shares a child, inflicting lacerations on her hand and neck plus a head injury. The woman told investigators Mairena-Garcia “did not say anything, he just went in and started cutting them and attacking them with the machete.” She revealed he had made multiple death threats via text message and in person prior to the assault.
Both victims managed to escape the residence during the attack. The male victim ran outside and down Edgewood Drive while Mairena-Garcia pursued him with the machete. The suspect then fled the scene in what witnesses described as a black SUV. Law enforcement used Flock camera technology to track his vehicle and conducted a traffic stop that resulted in his arrest. During the stop, Mairena-Garcia led officers to the machete he had discarded from his vehicle while fleeing.
Suspect’s Explanation and Criminal History
During police interrogation, Mairena-Garcia stated he saw his “wife” and another man in his bed, causing him to lose control. He told investigators he “blacked out because of the rage” and admitted his only thought was “just wanting to kill them.” Court records reveal the suspect already had an established criminal history in Wisconsin before this violent incident. Previous convictions include three guilty verdicts for operating without a valid driver’s license, plus an open case involving a hit-and-run collision.
Immigration Status and Legal Consequences
Mairena-Garcia is confirmed to be in the United States illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed an active hold on him while he remains detained in Brown County Jail. His cash bond has been set at $750,000. Both victims were hospitalized with serious injuries following the attack, though authorities have not released current information regarding their medical conditions. It remains unclear whether the couple’s child was present in the home during the attempted murder. The case continues as prosecutors pursue attempted first-degree intentional homicide charges along with additional offenses.