Gang members apologize after stabbing wrong man in Modesto

last updated: July 14, 2008 03:23:42 PM

A Modesto man was hospitalized in serious condition today after gang members broke into his south Modesto home, stabbed him, then apologized and said they attacked the wrong person, police reported.

The incident happened about 6:15 a.m. in the 900 block of west Whitmore Avenue, said Sgt. Craig Gundlach. Four men kicked in the victim’s door while he was sleeping. They kicked and punched the 32-year-old man and stabbed him in the upper right side of his back. He also received a laceration across his left eyebrow, Gundlach said.

Three other adults -- a boyfriend and a girlfriend and a single female -- were upstairs when the attack started, he said. They heard the commotion downstairs and went to see what was going on.

"They saw these individuals in their home attacking their friend," Gundlach said. At some point during the attack, the men realized they had the wrong house and told the victim they were sorry. "The gang members tried to apologize for what they had done and they left."

Gundlach said the men made comments while they were at the house that led police to believe they were gang members.

The men left in an older gray car. Its windows had been broken out. A woman may have been driving the car, Gundlach said. One man was described as in his 30s and shirtless with tattoos. The other men appeared to be 18 to 20 years old.

The victim was taken to a Modesto hospital. No further information was available about his condition, but his wounds did not appear life threatening, Gundlach said.

"These gang members entered somebody's home for the purpose of committing violence," he said. "These are gang members. They're violent cowards. No matter what house they hit, it's never the right house. No matter who they hit, it's never the right person. All they have to offer this community are cowardly acts of violence."

http://www.modbee.com/breakingnews/story/359485.html