3 Men Stabbed During Concert at Fairgrounds

Three young men suffered minor stab wounds when they were attacked Tuesday night at the Ventura County Fair, police said.

One victim is 16 but the ages of the other two youths were not immediately available. All three were taken to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment after the 8:50 p.m. attack. One victim was stabbed in the neck and another was stabbed in the back, authorities said.

The young men were standing near the arena on the western end of Seaside Park where the rhythm and blues group NEXT was performing, said Ventura Police Lt. Steve Bowman. They were apparently attacked from behind and then ran for help in different directions, police said. Each victim was found and treated in a different location at the fair, Bowman said.

Bowman said the attack could be gang-related. There were no suspects and only vague descriptions of the attackers, Bowman said.

At the time of the stabbings, fair employees were preparing to start the nightly fireworks show. Police have reported no other such incidents since the fair opened Aug. 5.