Man Critically Hurt During Street Robbery

A Panorama City man was in critical condition Friday after he was stabbed in the eye with a screwdriver during a street robbery, Los Angeles police said.

Servando Benitez, 21, suffered a wounded left eye, a skull fracture and brain hemorrhaging as a result of the attack Thursday at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City, Lt. Richard Blankenship said.

Police arrested Michael Story, 19, at a nearby apartment building where they also found the screwdriver, Blankenship said. Story was being held without bail at the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, he said.

The attack occurred about 4:20 p.m. as Benitez and two companions crossed the street. Story first attacked Salvador Flores, 25, trying to grab his gold chains and stabbing him twice in the chest, Blankenship said. Flores of Panorama City suffered superficial wounds and did not require treatment, he said.

Then Story allegedly lunged at Flores’ cousin, Secundo Flores, 22, also of Panorama City, but missed. Finally, he stabbed Benitez in the face, kicked Benitez when he fell to the ground and fled in a car, Blankenship said.

Witnesses gave police a description of the getaway car and also led them to Story’s apartment, Blankenship said.