On 8/16/09, at about 1145 p.m., officers responded to a possible stabbing call in the 2200 block of 2nd Ave. A witness was following the group of suspects S/B on 3rd Ave near Pine Street, where he lost the men.
The incident occurred about ten or fifteen minutes prior to officers arrival and the victim was driven by a friend, to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. An officer responded to the hospital, and learned that the man had suffered a single penetrating wound to the right side of his torso, which was not life threatening.
Further investigation at the scene revealed that the victim, a male in his 20s, had been involved in a verbal argument with the suspect, a male in his 20s, and his companions, also males in their 20s. The argument was sparked when one of the men asked the victim for a cigarette. The victim refused to give him one, and the suspect took offense, asking if the victim was unwilling to give him a cigarette because he was Black. Then other men with him also began to berate the victim, and the victim responded in kind. According to the witnesses, there were racial slurs exchanged by both sides. The victim challenged the suspect, and they traded blows.
After the melee, the suspect and his companions walked away on foot. The victim did not initially realize that he had been stabbed, but soon noticed that he was bleeding profusely. A friend at the scene loaded him into his car and drove him directly to Harborview. Meanwhile, the complainant followed the suspect group on foot while calling 911 from his cell phone.
While officers were at the scene investigating, one of the witnesses saw one of the suspect’s companions walking by. The officers detained and identified him. As he was not directly involved in assaulting the victim, officers interviewed and released him at the scene after checking for warrants. He is a transient who frequents the area and claims to reside under the bridge near Western Ave and Bell Street. He acknowledged observing the fight, but declined to give a statement.
The suspect is at large.