LUCERNE, Calif. – Authorities remain on the lookout for a Lucerne man alleged to have stabbed another man during a confrontation last week.
Juan Carlos Lopez, 25, is wanted in connection to the incident, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported stabbing victim in the 3000 block of Country Club Drive in Lucerne last Thursday, July 11, at about 11:45 p.m. Radio reports indicated the incident occurred at Country Club Mobile Home Park.
When deputies arrived they contacted the victim, who was lying on his back in the middle of the road. Deputies located what appeared to be a puncture wound on the victims left side which was bleeding, said Brooks.
The victim told deputies that he heard an argument between a male who was later identified as Lopez and a female, according to Brooks' report.
Brooks said the victim told deputies that the argument escalated and Lopez became physical with the female. He stepped between Lopez and the female in an effort to separate the two and Lopez stabbed him one time in the left side.
Lopez then ran away from the scene in an unknown direction, Brooks said.
The victim was transported by air ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center and was listed in critical condition at the time of the transport, according to Brooks.
Deputies canvassed the area but were unable to locate Lopez. Brooks said they continued to look for Lopez throughout the weekend with negative results.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit continued the investigation and contacted several witnesses who positively identified Lopez as the person responsible for the stabbing, Brooks said.
Brooks said the victim has since been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have information regarding this case or the whereabouts of Juan Carlos Lopez is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.