VENTURA : Boy, 14, Stabs Man Fighting His Mother

A 36-year-old Ventura man was stabbed Wednesday by a 14-year-old boy trying to break up a fight between the man and the boy’s mother, police said.

Richard Duarte was in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. The teen-ager was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Ventura Police Lt. Brad Talbot said.

A witness told police that Duarte and the woman began arguing between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. at an apartment at 52 Dakota Ave., Talbot said. The disagreement became physical, he said.

The woman’s son, whom police declined to identify, grabbed a butcher knife to intervene, Talbot said. The boy was then challenged by Duarte and a fight began, Talbot said.

Duarte was stabbed once in the abdomen, and the boy fled down the street. Duarte chased him but did not catch him, Talbot said. Duarte then returned to the apartment building, where he collapsed, Talbot said.

He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery, Talbot said. The boy returned to the residence and was arrested, he said.