Gang brawl with bats and knives leads to stabbing

A violent gang brawl involving nearly a dozen people armed with baseball bats, knives put one person in the hospital.

A spokesman with the Santa Barbara police department said it happened just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon near Sola and Kowalski Ave.

Sirens echoed throughout the downtown area as squad cars raced to the scene.

Witnesses in the neighborhood said they saw roughly ten people fighting in the streets with baseball bats.

Sgt. Riley Harwood told NewsChannel 3 that officers found a 17-year-old a few blocks away on W. Victoria St. suffering from at least one stab wound.

Harwood said the teen was on his way from a quinceaneras practice when he was stabbed.

The police spokesman said the teen is not in any way associated with a gang.

He was taken to Cottage Hospital — officers said he is expected to be OK.

Detectives are on the search for the suspects.

Police are not saying whether this incident could be connected to last week’s shooting that left one man dead.

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