A child’s father is in the hospital and a mother in custody after SAPD said her friend stabbed the father several times.

SAN ANTONIO — A man was hospitalized after he was stabbed multiple times during a child custody exchange outside an east-side YMCA, San Antonio police said. Authorities are searching for the suspect, who fled the scene in his vehicle.

Authorities responded to the Davis-Scott Family YMCA at Iowa and South New Braunfels around 6:40 p.m. The victim, described by police as a man in his mid-to-late-20s, had arrived to pick up his child when he and the child’s mother began arguing, according to law enforcement at the scene. During the dispute, the woman initiated “a physical, hands-on assault.”

According to authorities, the woman called for assistance from a male friend during the altercation. The friend allegedly joined the assault and stabbed the victim with a knife before fleeing in the victim’s vehicle.

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds in his chest/abdomen area, police said. His condition was unknown, but he was stable when he was taken to a hospital to be treated. 

The mother is in custody and could be facing charges, police said. Her friend, also described as a man in his mid-to-late 20s, remains unaccounted for. No weapon has been recovered at the scene as of yet. 

Investigators are working to interview several witnesses as the investigation continues.