Court records show the homicide suspect had been ordered to avoid the woman injured in the July 19 attack.
WEST MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A fatal stabbing at a West Milwaukee home occurred months after the man now charged in the attack was convicted in a domestic abuse case and ordered to have no contact with the woman who lived there, according to court records and a criminal complaint.
Luis Barahona Lopez, 25, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Jose Valdivia, 28, and first-degree recklessly endangering safety for injuries suffered by a 25-year-old woman. The charges are allegations, and Barahona Lopez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The July 19 attack has brought new attention to the earlier domestic violence case and the restrictions imposed on Barahona Lopez. Records reviewed by TMJ4 showed that he previously pleaded guilty to domestic abuse battery and disorderly conduct involving the same woman.
Prosecutors in the earlier case said Barahona Lopez punched the woman in the face and broke her nose. He entered guilty pleas in March and was ordered to have no contact with her or possess firearms, according to the station’s review of court records.
Barahona Lopez received a 90-day sentence at Milwaukee County’s Community Reintegration Center. The arrangement allowed him to leave the facility for approved purposes that included work, child care and treatment. A probation review hearing was expected in August.
Despite the no-contact order, the new criminal complaint says Barahona Lopez told investigators that he and the woman had been trying to repair their relationship because they shared three children. The filing says he went to her home after learning that she had been at a bar with another man.
Investigators said Barahona Lopez took his sister’s vehicle without permission and drove to the residence near South 52nd Street and West National Avenue. He allegedly located the woman’s keys in an unlocked truck and entered the home at about 3:37 a.m.
The complaint says he found Valdivia’s identification inside and later saw Valdivia asleep in a bedroom with the woman. Prosecutors allege that Barahona Lopez became angry, took two knives from the kitchen and forced open the bedroom door.
Valdivia was stabbed repeatedly as he slept, according to the complaint. A preliminary autopsy recorded 17 wounds. The woman was injured in her right hand and leg as she tried to intervene and push the attacker away, the filing says.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Valdivia after the attack. His family described him in a statement to TMJ4 as a hardworking and caring son who supported his parents, loved his siblings and had many friends.
Relatives said Valdivia grew up playing soccer and remained closely connected to his family. They were preparing to lay him to rest while seeking to give him a united final farewell.
The history described in the records does not decide the new criminal case. Prosecutors must prove the current charges separately, and the defense will have an opportunity to challenge the state’s evidence in court.
The homicide case remains pending in Milwaukee County. Authorities have not released further information about the injured woman’s recovery, and the available reports did not identify the next scheduled court proceeding.
Author note: Last updated July 26, 2026.