Teen-Ager Recovering After Stabbing

YORBA LINDA —  A 15-year-old Anaheim boy was recovering Saturday after he was stabbed in the back when he stumbled into the middle of a fight between two groups of teen-agers Friday night, police said.

“It appears he was an innocent bystander,” said Brea Police Lt. Chester Panique, whose department patrols Yorba Linda under contract.

Panique said that just before the 10:30 p.m. stabbing, a number of teen-agers had congregated outside a McDonald’s restaurant in the 22000 block of Old Canal Road.

A scuffle broke out at the same time the Anaheim teen tried to enter the restaurant, Panique said.

“He was walking up to go into it,” he said. “He hadn’t actually gone inside yet.”

Somehow, the youth ended up in the middle of the fight and someone pulled out a knife, stabbing him once in the back. The knife punctured the boy’s left lung, Panique said.

A witness who asked not to be identified said that it was suddenly pandemonium outside.

“This guy ran into (McDonald’s) and starting yelling, ‘Call the police! Call 911!’ ” the witness said. “They had to calm him down.”

Minutes later, the parking lot was filled with shouts, sirens and police cars, the witness said. In the commotion that ensued, the teens involved in the fracas were able to flee.

“We are requesting assistance from anyone who may have information concerning the identity of the suspects,” Panique said.

The youth was transported to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where doctors worked through the night to reinflate his lung. He was in good condition Saturday.