Stabbing Victim’s Condition Improves
The condition of a Santa Paula man who was stabbed 18 times has improved from critical to guarded, a Ventura County Medical Center nursing supervisor said Monday.
Avelino Morales, 28, was admitted to the hospital late Friday after the knife attack. But the identity of the assailants who repeatedly knifed Morales remains a mystery, Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Bob Gonzalez said.
Morales was walking with a friend at 10:29 p.m. Friday in the 1200 block of East Ventura Street when they were approached by two men in their mid-20s.
Morales was stabbed in the chest, back and both legs. The two attackers fled on foot, Gonzalez said.
Police are not revealing the name of Morales’ friend out of concern that he may be attacked in retaliation for his testimony, Gonzalez said.
Officers have been unable to determine whether a gang was involved in the stabbing because Morales’ friend could not identify the attackers by name, Gonzalez said.
Police plan to interview Morales when he is released from the hospital, Gonzalez said.
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