Boy stabbed on San Pascual Street

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A 17-year-old Santa Barbara boy was stabbed multiple times last Thursday in the 1200 block of San Pascual Street during a one-sided brawl that police officials say was gang related.
According to a statement released by the Police Department yesterday, the stabbing occurred just before midnight. Law enforcement didn’t find out about the stabbing until being notified by Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, the statement said.


“Officers were unable to speak with the victim due to him being in surgery at the time,” said Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte, who noted that investigators still managed to identify the location of the stabbing.
Duarte said a witness told police the assault occurred after several males exited a vehicle and confronted the victim, who was alone.
Sgt. Bernie Gaona, a gang unit supervisor for the police department, said gangs regularly use this type of assault.
“It’s unfortunate we have to call it one of our regular stabbings,” Gaona said. “We do have these semi frequently. There’s no specific pattern as to why we have them.”
The last reported assault that involved gang members jumping from an automobile was on Jan. 14 when an 18-year-old man sustained multiple stab wounds.
In that incident, the teenage victim told police he had been standing in front of his residence in the 600 block of Kentia Avenue at 8:45 p.m. when a vehicle approached and four suspects exited, demanding his bicycle and cell phone. When the victim tried to leave, police said he was attacked and stabbed.
Two days later, two brothers walking on the sidewalk in the 700 block of West Micheltorena St. were assaulted and stabbed by several suspects who drove up to the brothers, exited the car and assaulted them.
Another incident occurred on Dec. 20 when a 16-year-old boy suffered minor injuries from a stab wound. According to police statements at that time, a man in a black sedan got out of his car, asked the boy if “he bangs” and then stabbed him in the back.
In last Thursday’s assault, Gaona said police do not have a description of the involved vehicle.
Gaona said the victim was in stable condition on Saturday. Due to confidentiality concerns, Cottage Hospital would not comment yesterday on the boy’s current status.
Gaona said investigators have not yet determined if the assault is connected to the Jan. 14 stabbing. He said anyone with information about this stabbing or any other gang related assault should contact police investigators.
“This isn’t just our sole effort,” he said. “It’s a community effort. Every little bit helps.”