Local : Witness to Palmdale Stabbing Aids Victim, Pursues, Seizes Suspect

A witness to a stabbing in Palmdale Tuesday night did more than just watch.

When Hank Adame, 34, saw one man stab another during a street fight, he aided the victim, then chased the attacker a mile to a bar and subdued him with the help of patrons until police arrived.

Albert Harris, 30, of Lancaster, was charged with attempted murder and was being held without bail today at the Antelope Valley sheriff’s substation. The stabbing victim, 21-year-old Keith Harper of Palmdale, underwent surgery for five stab wounds to the chest and abdomen at Palmdale Hospital Medical Center. He was in stable condition today, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Deputy Ron Bozeman said Harris is suspected of stabbing Harper at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday after an argument over a woman escalated into a fight.

Adame, a Rosamond resident who was in a nearby parking lot, saw the stabbing and helped Harper into a car that Harper’s cousin drove to the hospital, Sgt. Ron Shreves said. Adame then pursued Harris to the Wel-Com-Inn bar, where he told patrons of the stabbing. They helped him subdue Harris and called the police, Shreves said.