Police looking for critical stabbing suspects

A 21-year-old man who was stabbed early Sunday in downtown Huntington Beach remains in critical condition, police said. His assailants are still at-large.

Witnesses said the victim was passing by two men in their mid-twenties with medium builds, when the men yelled at him, police said. One man had a shaved head; the other had a buzz-cut.

One of the suspects then stabbed the victim. Witnesses called 911 at 2:09 a.m., police reports said. Police are calling the incident an attempted murder.

Police found the young man “clinging to life” while lying in the southeast corner of the intersection, and took him to UCI Medical Center. The victim is still in critical condition, Lt. Russ Reinhart said Monday afternoon.

The suspects apparently had been standing near the IHOP restaurant, 200 Main St., just prior to the incident, and may have confronted other people verbally prior to the stabbing. A taxi driver may also have witnessed part of the attack, so police are asking taxi drivers who were in the area of Sixth Street and Olive Avenue at 2 a.m. to call them.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department hotline at (714) 375-5066.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at [email protected].