Father of three stabbed to death while defending homeless man

Authorities are asking the public’s help in identifying a group of people involved in the fatal attack of a father of three who was stabbed to death while defending a homeless man in Rancho Cucamonga.

Donnie Reed died Sunday while trying to defend a homeless man from a group of people who were harassing him, Lucky Hughes, a friend and witness to the stabbing, told KTLA.

The attack occurred across from Stix Sports & Grill on Foothill Boulevard around 2:25 a.m., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Reed and his companions had just stepped outside when they heard a commotion across the street, Hughes said. When the friends realized that a group of people were taunting a homeless man, they ran over to help, Hughes said.

“They were getting closer to him and it looked like they were going to jump him,” Hughes said. “And me and Donnie pretty much agreed we weren’t going to let that happen.”

A confrontation between the two groups turned violent when a member of the group harassing the homeless man pulled a knife and stabbed Reed in the stomach, Hughes said.

Reed, 39, died at the hospital. One of his friends was also stabbed, but survived, officials said.

Authorities said they were still searching for the attackers.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (909) 387-3589.