Gang member stabbed at local park

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A group of men attacked two brothers, both known gang members, near Alice Keck Park on Wednesday evening, sending one to the hospital with minor stab wounds, authorities said.
Santa Barbara police spokesman Lt. Paul McCaffrey said the brothers, 15 and 17, had been loitering near the park at 1500 Garden St. just before 10 p.m. when the attack took place.

“Reportedly, four to five Hispanic males confronted them with the challenge of ‘where they were from,’” Lt. McCaffrey said. “The two gang members said their gang affiliation; one said he would fistfight the challengers ‘one at a time.’”
As one of the challengers pulled a knife, the larger group started chasing the two brothers, he said. The 17-year-old brother threw his bicycle at the attackers as he fled, and received minor cuts to his torso and arm, police said.
“The two gang members went home and their mother brought them to Cottage Hospital,” Lt. McCaffrey said. “…Neither gang member was cooperative with police, so the exact circumstances of who provoked the incident remain unclear.”
He said another 18-year-old gang member from a rival gang arrived at the hospital with a severe cut on his hand as police attempted to question the two brothers yesterday evening.
The 18-year-old told authorities he had injured his hand in a skateboarding accident and provided a location, Lt. McCaffrey said.
“Police searched but did not find any blood or evidence of an accident as described by this individual,” he said. “Detectives believe the Alice Keck Park stabbing incident is gang-related, and have suspicions the rival gang member with the lacerated hand was involved.”