Man Stabbed at Fast-Food Restaurant
A Simi Valley man was stabbed early Thursday during a fight over racial epithets while he was waiting in line at a fast-food restaurant drive-through window, authorities said.
Michael Blankenship, 25, of Simi Valley was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon shortly after Anthony Lucero, 20, was stabbed outside a Taco Bell restaurant on Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley Police Sgt. Bob Gardner said.
According to police reports, Lucero was waiting to place an order at at about 12:30 a.m. when he saw Blankenship approach the vehicle in front of him and begin harassing its occupants, both of whom were Lucero’s friends.
Blankenship then turned on Lucero, who was alone in his vehicle, police said.
Lucero left his car to confront Blankenship, who was teasing him with racial slurs, police said.
A fight ensued during which Lucero was stabbed in the left side of his abdomen.
Simi Valley police said they found Blankenship walking a short distance from the restaurant and arrested him. He had been drinking, Gardner said.
Lucero was released from the hospital Thursday night, hospital officials said.
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