A man was arrested after stabbing another man in the back on busy street in San Francisco’s Chinatown Thursday afternoon, just days before the Chinese New Year’s parade.
A surveillance camera caught the moment when the victim was stabbed in the back by another man wearing a dark hoodie – that footage is available in the video player above.
The man who was stabbed was both stunned and serious injured, and he almost immediately lays down on the sidewalk.
Within seconds, Ronnie Chan, a store owner, said one of her customers told her about the attack. The shop owners then jumped in to help the victim.
One brought a towel, another brought a pillow and another brought her frozen dumplings because they didn’t have ice to pack the stab wound.
Chan says a nurse also happened to pass by and stopped to help. Moments later, police and paramedics showed up.
According to San Francisco police, the victim was rushed to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. His condition is unknown at this time.
Chan said police were able to make an arrest very quickly.
“Within 10 minutes, the police tell us that they arrested the suspect in the tunnel,” Chan said.
This attack comes as Chinatown, and much of the rest of the city, is getting ready for the Chinese New Year parade and massive crowds this weekend.
The business owners and workers in the area said despite this attack, their neighborhood has been very safe lately.
“I think it’s still safe. Because like, there’s not a lot of dangerous things happening, except for this case, because they know each other. But in my opinion, I think Chinatown is stable,” Sabrina Wu with Flags International Services said.
SFPD said the attacker remains in custody. The District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and will outline formal charges Monday.