Witness Aids Stabbing Victim, Then Helps Capture Suspect

A witness to a crime in Palmdale on Tuesday night did more than just watch.

Hank Adame, 34, helped the victim of a stabbing on the street, chased the attacker a mile to a bar and subdued him with the help of patrons until police arrived, authorities said Wednesday.

Albert Harris, 30, of Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held without bail at the Antelope Valley sheriff’s station. The victim, 21-year-old Keith Harper of Palmdale, underwent surgery for five wounds to the chest and abdomen at Palmdale Hospital Medical Center. He was in stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Deputy Ron Bozeman said Harris is suspected of stabbing Harper about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at 5th Street East and Palmdale Boulevard after an argument over a woman.

Adame, a Rosamond resident who was in a nearby parking lot, saw the stabbing and helped Harper into a car that Harper’s cousin drove to the hospital, Sgt. Ron Shreves said. Adame then pursued the attacker to the bar, where he told patrons of the stabbing, he said. They helped him subdue Harris and called police, Shreves said.