Topline: The woman suffered a broken hand, fractured eye socket, and 36 head injuries in what prosecutors called a vicious attack.
Published: September 26, 2025 12:41 pm ET
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Nicholas Vincuillo (via Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
TEMPE, AZ — An Arizona man is facing a series of felony charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in what authorities describe as one of the most violent domestic attacks they’ve seen, all reportedly sparked by a dispute over a vape.
According to the Tempe Police Department, officers were contacted just after 2 a.m. on Sept. 21 by a woman who said she had been attacked inside her boyfriend’s apartment near Loop 101 and Rio Salado Parkway.
The suspect, 32-year-old Nicholas Vincuillo, had become enraged, she told police, after discovering that she had taken a vape pen from his nightstand while he was in the shower.
The confrontation quickly escalated into what prosecutors are calling a “vicious” and life-threatening assault. Police say Vincuillo slammed the woman into a wall, punched her repeatedly, and threw her into a bathroom.
According to a probable cause statement obtained by The Olympian, he then strangled her until “her vision was closing in,” and at one point held a loaded handgun to her forehead.
“She was strangled, she had an orbital fracture, a fracture to her left hand,” Maricopa County prosecutor Dawn Sauer told KSAZ. “The forensic nurse described the victim’s injuries as being in the top five worst she has ever seen.”
In all, medical staff documented 36 injuries to the woman’s head alone, police said. She was later taken to a hospital in Scottsdale after escaping the apartment and driving to a nearby In-N-Out Burger for help.
Authorities allege that after the assault, Vincuillo attempted to destroy evidence.
According to court documents acquired by KSAZ, he forced the woman to shower, clean up the blood, and dispose of clothing. Investigators later found a plastic bag in a trash compactor that contained the victim’s clothes, her laptop and phone, and used cleaning wipes.
Police also recovered a loaded handgun, blood spatter on the bathroom wall, and Xanax pills during a search of the apartment. The victim reportedly told officers that Vincuillo had forced her to take Xanax and that he himself had been drinking and using cocaine.
The Olympian reported that Vincuillo initially offered the woman water, medication, and even a ride to the hospital after the beating—but she refused, fearing that he would be arrested if she accepted help. Court documents say she is now so terrified that she is considering leaving the state entirely.
Prosecutors also noted that Vincuillo has a prior history of domestic violence. In this case, officers were told that he had claimed affiliation with an outlaw motorcycle gang as a means of intimidation. According to police, a previous victim of his reported hearing the same claim from him.
The charges Vincuillo now faces are extensive and include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault causing temporary disfigurement, aggravated assault by impeding breathing, tampering with physical evidence, theft or control of property, administering a dangerous drug, and additional felony counts.
A judge has ordered that Vincuillo be held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Police: Arizona Man Brutally Assaulted Girlfriend After Argument Over Vape
The woman suffered a broken hand, fractured eye socket, and 36 head injuries in what prosecutors called a vicious attack.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 26, 2025 12:41 pm ET
Nicholas Vincuillo (via Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
TEMPE, AZ — An Arizona man is facing a series of felony charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in what authorities describe as one of the most violent domestic attacks they’ve seen, all reportedly sparked by a dispute over a vape.
According to the Tempe Police Department, officers were contacted just after 2 a.m. on Sept. 21 by a woman who said she had been attacked inside her boyfriend’s apartment near Loop 101 and Rio Salado Parkway.
The suspect, 32-year-old Nicholas Vincuillo, had become enraged, she told police, after discovering that she had taken a vape pen from his nightstand while he was in the shower.
The confrontation quickly escalated into what prosecutors are calling a “vicious” and life-threatening assault. Police say Vincuillo slammed the woman into a wall, punched her repeatedly, and threw her into a bathroom.
According to a probable cause statement obtained by The Olympian, he then strangled her until “her vision was closing in,” and at one point held a loaded handgun to her forehead.
“She was strangled, she had an orbital fracture, a fracture to her left hand,” Maricopa County prosecutor Dawn Sauer told KSAZ. “The forensic nurse described the victim’s injuries as being in the top five worst she has ever seen.”
In all, medical staff documented 36 injuries to the woman’s head alone, police said. She was later taken to a hospital in Scottsdale after escaping the apartment and driving to a nearby In-N-Out Burger for help.
Authorities allege that after the assault, Vincuillo attempted to destroy evidence.
According to court documents acquired by KSAZ, he forced the woman to shower, clean up the blood, and dispose of clothing. Investigators later found a plastic bag in a trash compactor that contained the victim’s clothes, her laptop and phone, and used cleaning wipes.
Police also recovered a loaded handgun, blood spatter on the bathroom wall, and Xanax pills during a search of the apartment. The victim reportedly told officers that Vincuillo had forced her to take Xanax and that he himself had been drinking and using cocaine.
The Olympian reported that Vincuillo initially offered the woman water, medication, and even a ride to the hospital after the beating—but she refused, fearing that he would be arrested if she accepted help. Court documents say she is now so terrified that she is considering leaving the state entirely.
Prosecutors also noted that Vincuillo has a prior history of domestic violence. In this case, officers were told that he had claimed affiliation with an outlaw motorcycle gang as a means of intimidation. According to police, a previous victim of his reported hearing the same claim from him.
The charges Vincuillo now faces are extensive and include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault causing temporary disfigurement, aggravated assault by impeding breathing, tampering with physical evidence, theft or control of property, administering a dangerous drug, and additional felony counts.
A judge has ordered that Vincuillo be held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police: Arizona Man Brutally Assaulted Girlfriend After Argument Over Vape
The woman suffered a broken hand, fractured eye socket, and 36 head injuries in what prosecutors called a vicious attack.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 26, 2025 12:41 pm ET
Nicholas Vincuillo (via Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
TEMPE, AZ — An Arizona man is facing a series of felony charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in what authorities describe as one of the most violent domestic attacks they’ve seen, all reportedly sparked by a dispute over a vape.
According to the Tempe Police Department, officers were contacted just after 2 a.m. on Sept. 21 by a woman who said she had been attacked inside her boyfriend’s apartment near Loop 101 and Rio Salado Parkway.
The suspect, 32-year-old Nicholas Vincuillo, had become enraged, she told police, after discovering that she had taken a vape pen from his nightstand while he was in the shower.
The confrontation quickly escalated into what prosecutors are calling a “vicious” and life-threatening assault. Police say Vincuillo slammed the woman into a wall, punched her repeatedly, and threw her into a bathroom.
According to a probable cause statement obtained by The Olympian, he then strangled her until “her vision was closing in,” and at one point held a loaded handgun to her forehead.
“She was strangled, she had an orbital fracture, a fracture to her left hand,” Maricopa County prosecutor Dawn Sauer told KSAZ. “The forensic nurse described the victim’s injuries as being in the top five worst she has ever seen.”
In all, medical staff documented 36 injuries to the woman’s head alone, police said. She was later taken to a hospital in Scottsdale after escaping the apartment and driving to a nearby In-N-Out Burger for help.
Authorities allege that after the assault, Vincuillo attempted to destroy evidence.
According to court documents acquired by KSAZ, he forced the woman to shower, clean up the blood, and dispose of clothing. Investigators later found a plastic bag in a trash compactor that contained the victim’s clothes, her laptop and phone, and used cleaning wipes.
Police also recovered a loaded handgun, blood spatter on the bathroom wall, and Xanax pills during a search of the apartment. The victim reportedly told officers that Vincuillo had forced her to take Xanax and that he himself had been drinking and using cocaine.
The Olympian reported that Vincuillo initially offered the woman water, medication, and even a ride to the hospital after the beating—but she refused, fearing that he would be arrested if she accepted help. Court documents say she is now so terrified that she is considering leaving the state entirely.
Prosecutors also noted that Vincuillo has a prior history of domestic violence. In this case, officers were told that he had claimed affiliation with an outlaw motorcycle gang as a means of intimidation. According to police, a previous victim of his reported hearing the same claim from him.
The charges Vincuillo now faces are extensive and include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault causing temporary disfigurement, aggravated assault by impeding breathing, tampering with physical evidence, theft or control of property, administering a dangerous drug, and additional felony counts.
A judge has ordered that Vincuillo be held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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