Newport Man Knifed in Ventura

Police are looking for a man who, without any apparent provocation, stabbed a Newport Beach man late Friday night at a downtown restaurant.

The victim, John P. Landry, 31, was in fair condition Saturday at Ventura County Medical Center after being stabbed repeatedly at Carrow’s Resaurant on California Street, Ventura police said.

A suspect has been identified, a police spokesman said, but he declined to name him. They said the suspect was released earlier this month from prison.

Landry and several friends were passing through Ventura when they stopped at the restaurant late Friday night, police said.

The assailant began to harass and insult Landry and his friend, apparently hoping to start a fight with Landry, police said. When Landry refused to fight, the man pulled out a butterfly knife, which opens with a flick of the wrist, and stabbed Landry, police said.