U-Hi Athlete, 17, Sidelined By Stabbing Football Player And Friend Attacked At Fairgrounds Over Weekend

University High School’s highly regarded running back watched football practice from the sidelines Monday.

Senior Tim Buchanan was stabbed twice in the leg during a Saturday night fight at the Spokane Interstate Fair.

Wrestling coach Don Owen said he learned that Buchanan, 17, and University High senior Mike Pugh were getting into their car when a group of people, including several East Valley High School students, circled them in the fair parking lot.

“They were using the N-word on them,” Owen said. “Both Mike and Tim are black kids.”

The boys claim the mother of one of the other teens maced and stabbed Buchanan. Pugh suffered a concussion in the altercation, according to Owen.

Owen taught Pugh’s civics class Monday and coaches Buchanan in wrestling. Buchanan and Pugh are both on the track team.

Owen saw Buchanan limping to classes Monday. Buchanan is a starting running back and also was expected to play defensive end.

“He’s one of the mainstays on the (football) team,” Owen said.

Sheriff’s detective Cal Walker began talking with witnesses Monday and said he has suspects but has made no arrests.

Walker said words may have been exchanged but race wasn’t the main issue in the fight.

“There’s a lot more to it than that,” the detective said. “The root of the whole problem goes back to some underlying disagreements between a couple of groups.”

He said neither group is tied to gangs. Up to 30 people were involved in several fights that night, and others suffered minor injuries, Walker said.

, DataTimes