3 Paper Deliverymen Stabbed by 3 Robbers

Three newspaper distributors were recovering after being stabbed repeatedly early Monday morning during a robbery in Ventura.

The three men, all independent contractors working for the Daily News, were stuffing advertising inserts into newspapers when they were confronted by three assailants with knives about 1:45 a.m. at the rear of an Arco station on Citrus Drive.

The robbers demanded money from Marvin Erickson, 34, and Andrew Gentry, 28, both of Ventura and Terry Waller, 35, of Oak View, police said.

The men told police they turned over about $12 but that the thieves then began stabbing them.

“We don’t know why,” said Sgt. George Morris. “They didn’t have anything.”

Waller was stabbed several times on the hands and arm and once in the neck trying to fend off the attacker, Morris said.

Gentry was stabbed once in the stomach. Erickson was stabbed six times, with one of the wounds puncturing his lung, said David Lack, a sales manager who oversees distribution of the Daily News in Ventura.

“It seems kind of weird,” Lack said. “These guys don’t have a lot of money.”

Erickson and Waller were taken to Ventura County Medical Center, and Gentry was taken to Community Memorial Hospital. Waller and Erickson were listed in fair condition late Monday. Gentry was treated and released.

The suspects were last seen fleeing in a brown van. They were described as three Latino men in their late teens to early 20s with shaved heads.

Ventura Police Department detectives are investigating.