(Getty)
One of the American heroes from August’s terror train attack in France was stabbed during a street fight Thursday morning.
Spencer Stone was attacked early on the morning of October 8 in his hometown of Sacramento, California. Police don’t believe that the attack is the result of any kind of terror incident, but the investigation is ongoing. He is in stable condition and is expected to survive.
According to the Sacramento News & Review, Stone was fighting off six men to protect a woman.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Stone Was ‘Protecting a Friend,’ With the Police Saying ‘Alcohol Is Believed to be a Factor’
Fox Sacramento reports that that stabbing occurred on K and 21st Street at around 12:45 a.m. TMZ reports that the incident began with Stone trying to protect a female friend. The Sacramento Police believe that alcohol was a factor in the stabbing.
Surveillance video of the attack can be seen above.
Speaking to the Air Force Times, spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Karns said “A1C Spencer Stone has been transported to a local hospital, and is currently being treated for injury. The incident is currently under investigation by local law enforcement. He is currently in stable condition.” The fight happened outside of a bar on the street. The Air Force Times added that Stone was stabbed four times.
2. Initially, Police Didn’t Think Stone Would Survive
All three of the train attack heroes with President Obama. (Getty)
Stone was stabbed multiple times in the chest and has undergone surgery. KCRA reports that responding police did not think that Stone would initially survive, as a result homicide detectives had been sent to the scene. His condition was earlier described as “critical” by CBS Sacramento. Later, that same station reported that his condition had been upgraded to “stable.”
3. No Arrests Have Been Made, Police Don’t Believe it’s a Hate Crime
Stone pictured on his Facebook page. (Facebook)
KCRA reports that a man and a woman were questioned at the scene but no arrests were made. No description of a suspect has been released by the police. The investigating officers do not believe it’s a hate crime, reports ABC Sacramento. According to CBS Sacramento’s Derek Shore, there is an active search ongoing for the suspect.
4. This Attack Is a Week After Alek Skarlatos Was Due to Be at Umpqua Community College
Umpqua shooter Chris Harper Mercer. (Spiritual Passions)
This comes a week after fellow train attack hero, Alek Skarlatos, narrowly avoided the tragedy at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. A class at the college was attacked by crazed gunman Chris Harper Mercer. In the aftermath of the shooting, TMZ reported that Skarlatos, a student at the school, wasn’t there that day because he was practicing for Dancing With the Stars.
Skarlatos tweeted about the stabbing:
Everybody send prayers out to the stone family today
5. All 3 of the French Train Heroes Are From Sacramento
Back in August, Stone, along with friends Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler, tackled and subdued Moroccan Ayooub El-Khazaani after he began opening fire on a Paris train. Stone lives in California, where he’s a renowned jiujitsu expert. All three of the heroes are from Sacramento. Despite his own serious injuries during the train attack, Stone helped a passenger whose throat was cut, applying pressure to keep him from bleeding out. Later, his friends told People Magazine that Stone’s actions were “no surprise.”