A nuclear engineer was stabbed to death after a party, and family and friends are baffled

A young nuclear engineer attended a house party in Southwest Miami-Dade on Saturday and wound up stabbed to death in the street.

Family and friends — along with Miami-Dade police — can’t understand why the muscular athlete, whose Facebook page is adorned with shots of him playing beach volleyball, snowboarding and zip lining, was killed.

Alexander Restrepo, 33, who worked at Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station, was attending a party in the area of Southwest 147th Street and 157th Avenue at about 2:55 a.m. Saturday. Apparently, when he was about to leave, he was involved in a confrontation with a group of men and words were exchanged. Some 50 to 60 people were at the party.

“They keep walking a few houses down the street. Same individuals that confronted him at the exit, they get into another argument. Now it starts escalating, becomes physical and at one point he winds up getting stabbed,” Miami-Dade Police Det. Argemis Colome told CBS4.

Restrepo, a Coral Reef High School and University of Florida graduate, was stabbed in the back numerous times.

Police posted a flier on Twitter to seek information that will lead to an arrest.

“Somebody who was there in one of their groups has to know more,” Colome told CBS4.

Igor Merda said on a Facebook post that his brother-in-law was stabbed by a teenager multiple times while leaving the party. He remembers Restrepo as an “exceptional man” in the post. A man who was close with his mother, Amparo Restrepo, with whom he’d include in his social circle, and other family members.

“He had the ability to amaze you, whether you’re a young man, a very old woman or a dog. His brilliant mind fitted into his character, his sarcastic personality indeed made him even better looking, not sure if that was actually possible. I’m gonna miss you brother. I’m also gonna miss you being an amazing uncle to Natasha,” Merda posted.

“He was always the one to gather the troops and plan outings, events, and trips, with detailed itineraries no less, and invite EVERYONE,” posted friend Erik Arriete.

Miami-Dade police ask that anyone with information call 305-471-2400. You can also call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 and remain anonymous. If the tip leads to an arrest the tipster can be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.

This story was originally published October 25, 2017 at 11:26 AM with the headline "A nuclear engineer was stabbed to death after a party, and family and friends are baffled."