VENTURA : 3 Stabbed in Brawl at Shopping Center

Three people suffered minor stab wounds during a fight at the Buenaventura Mall on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The three were taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where they were treated and released, hospital workers said.

About 25 youths were involved in the altercation, which is believed to havebeen gang-related, police said.

Police said they received a call about a disturbance at the mall in the 300 block of South Mills Road at 12:50 p.m.

A police spokeswoman said the report of the fight came from inside the mall, but Sgt. Larry McBride said the stabbing victims ended up at the parking lot of Great Western Bank on South Mills Road.

The victims, who were not identified, were from Saticoy or Ventura, police said.

A police spokeswoman Thursday evening said she did not know the identity of the gangs involved. No arrests had been made.

A freshman at Buena High School, who refused to identify herself, said that five gangs were involved in the fight.

An employee of a record shop in the mall, who also refused to be identified, said he was driving down South Mills Road when he saw the fight.

He said that three males ran from the bushes near the bank into the road, causing traffic to come to a screeching halt.

He saw one youth throw something metallic at another group of males who were running after them. The pursuers threw something back as they continued the chase, he said.