Man stabbed in popular shopping center

Watsonville police make a presence Wednesday in the Mi Pueblo Food Center lot where a man was stabbed Tuesday night. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula).

WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville man was stabbed Tuesday night during a confrontation in front of the Mi Pueblo Food Center on Freedom Boulevard. Watsonville Police Sgt. Burt Iles said police were dispatched to a report of a stabbing at 9:27 p.m. in the parking lot of the Mi Pueblo, 1437 Freedom Blvd.

However, as police arrived they learned that the victim and suspect had fled prior to their arrival. A WPD unit went to the Watsonville Community Hospital and located the victim, who had been taken by private vehicle.

The victim, who is in his early 20s, was in the parking lot of the Mi Pueblo loading groceries into the trunk of his vehicle when the suspect, also in his early 20s, walked past and gave him a “hard look,” Iles said. The victim turned and “looked hard” back at the suspect.

The suspect then walked up to victim and attacked him with a knife. The suspect stabbed the victim in the left upper arm and the chest. The suspect then got into a nearby vehicle and left on Freedom Boulevard.

The victim was bleeding heavily from his injuries, Iles said. He stated that he did not know his attacker and did not know what provoked the attack. He was initially treated at the Watsonville Community Hospital and then was flown by air ambulance to a Bay Area Trauma Center for further treatment, Iles said.

“The victim suffered life-threatening wounds but was listed in stable condition by late Tuesday night,” Iles said. “It is unknown at this time if the attack was gang motivated.”

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the WPD Investigations Division at 768-3350 or the crime tip line at 768-3544.

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