Three Latino youths are recovering from stab wounds they incurred as the result of three separate gang-related attacks on Wednesday night.
At around 9 p.m. police responded to a call reporting an individual had been stabbed on the 300 block of West Valerio Street. Officers then received a second call minutes later reporting another stabbing at the 300 block of West Arrellaga Street.
According to the police report of the incidents, the stabbings began with a suspect – an 18-year-old Latino man -traveling northbound on Bath Street near Micheltorena Street in a white Toyota Tundra. He was accompanied by several unidentified passengers. The suspect then allegedly saw a 17-year-old Latino boy on Bath Street near the intersection of Bath and Arrellaga streets, stopped the truck, and confronted the juvenile along with one of his passengers. The suspect then asked the 17-year old where he was from, and when he claimed a rival gang the two began fighting. During the fight, a 15-year-old male walking in the area jumped to the 17-year-old’s defense. That 17-year-old was then stabbed in the abdomen and ran away from the fight, leaving the 15-year-old to continue fighting the suspect and his accomplice by himself.
The 15-year-old produced his own knife and cut off part of the suspect’s ear and stabbed him in the neck. The 15-year-old also received several superficial stab wounds from the two assailants.
The fight ended when those involved attempted to flee. The suspect and the 15-year-old and 17-year-old were eventually apprehended and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, admitted, and treated for non-life-threatening wounds, while the Toyota Tundra and the people who were riding with the suspect have not yet been caught.
No arrests have been made and the incident is currently under investigation.
Those with information about this incident are urged to call Sergeant Lorenzo Duarte at (805) 897-2332 or email him at lduarte@sbpd.com.