WESTMINSTER : 2 Teens Stabbed, 1 Critically; 2 Arrested

Two teen-agers were wounded, one critically, apparently during a gang fight outside Westminster’s Asia Garden mall early Sunday, authorities said.

Westminster detectives arrested two suspects in the 12:35 a.m. stabbing incident after one of the two victims was able to name his attackers, police said.

Nhan Hau Duc Nguyen, 19, was in critical condition with multiple stab wounds Sunday at UCI Medical Center in Orange, officials said. Hui Anh Ngo, 19, was in fair and stable condition at the same hospital, also with multiple stab wounds. Police were unsure where either man lived.

What sparked the confrontation in the parking lot of the mall at 9200 Bolsa Avenue was not immediately known. “But apparently the suspects and the victims know each other and haven’t gotten along for some time,” Police Lt. Andrew Hall said.

Detectives arrested Hien Minh Ly, 19, at his Garden Grove home late Sunday morning on suspicion of attempted murder, he said. A second suspect, Steve Phuong Huynh, 25, of Westminster, a clothing salesman, was taken into custody at the mall where the stabbing occurred. Both were being held at the Orange County Jail.

At least one of the suspects is known to be a gang member, Hall said.

Friends of the two stabbing victims had tried to drive them to a hospital but got lost and had to summon help.

Ironically, the stabbing occurred directly behind a fire station where paramedics were on duty. “If they had called 911, paramedics would have been able to help them right away,” Hall said.