A would-be attacker armed with a piece of lumber became the victim during a gang fight near Freedom and Airport boulevards on Friday evening, Watsonville police reported.
The 21-year-old Watsonville man was stabbed several times in his upper torso; officers described his wounds as "life threatening." He was flown to an out-of-county trauma center for treatment following the 6:30 p.m. fight.
The brawl began when the 21-year-old and three other men in a sports utility vehicle spotted two other men walking on Freedom Boulevard. The 21-year-old, who was carrying a 2x4, and two others jumped out of the SUV and accosted the pair of men, police reported.
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But the two men fought off their attackers. In the process, one or both of the would-be victims stabbed the 21-year-old several times, police said.
All of the men involved in the fight, except the stabbing victim, ran offi in different directions after the fight, which was reported to local media outlets while police were still investigating the initial 911 calls about the fight. The injured man was found near Freedom and Richardson avenues.
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No arrests were made.
Police say the fight is gang-related and ask anyone with information to call the Investigations Division at 768-3350 or the Crime Tip Line at 768-3544.
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