Man stabbed outside store

Sat., Jan. 19, 2008

Meghann M. Cuniff Staff writer

A homeless man in his late 40s was stabbed outside a Mission Avenue bird store late Friday afternoon, according to Spokane police.

Store owner Kristen Dooley said she was chatting with a few customers at the Bird Shop, 1919 E. Mission Ave., about 5 p.m. when the man came in requesting assistance.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve been stabbed,’ ” Dooley said. “He took his shirt off and he was gushing (blood).”

Dooley called 911 and the man was transferred to Deaconess Medical Center. Spokane police Cpl. Jon Strickland said the wound was not life-threatening.

The victim and a friend, who were drinking behind a nearby grocery store before the stabbing, made different statements about what happened, Strickland said.

The victim said the suspect walked up and stabbed him “for no reason,” Strickland said. But the victim’s friend said the stabbing occurred after the victim chased the suspect down the street after the man threatened the two, Strickland said,

“Due to the intoxication level of the victim and his buddy, we’re getting conflicting stories,” Strickland said.

The suspect is described as a white male between 21 and 24 years old, 5 feet 5 inches, 160 pounds, clean shaven with a shaved head, blue jacket and blue jeans.

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