Homeless Men Engage In Brutal Knife Fight Outside Shelter
During a brawl between two homeless men in Fullerton on Wednesday night, the men stabbed one another, sending one man to the hospital with serious injuries.
Police responded to reports of a stabbing near the Fullerton Armory on South Brookhurst Road and West Valencia Drive shortly before 6pm and discovered the men in the parking lot. Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said investigators believe the men suffered the knife wounds and lacerations after engaging in "mutual combat," reports The OC Register.
Critically injured, Daniel Gomez was taken to UCI Medical Center. His condition was later upgraded to serious. CBS LA reports Gomez suffered a gash to one of his biceps. The other man, Alexander Torres, suffered lesser injuries but was also transported to the hospital.
The initial argument between the men nor the fight took place within the armory, according to officials from Mercy House, which runs the homeless shelter at the National Guard armory. Mercy House board member Kathleen Janson describes the incident as follows: ..."the two men got into a disagreement before entering the armory, then walked off the property and around the corner, where the altercation took place. After being stabbed, one of them ran back into the armory parking lot, where paramedics responded..."
Police do not believe the recent Orange County serial killer stabbing deaths of homeless men are related to the Fullerton incident. Homeless people in Orange County have been living in fear since the three slayings; the armory is currently filled to capacity with nearly 200 homeless persons.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fight as well as the weapons used in the brawl.
