Update: Victim in stabbing near downtown Modesto a 56-year-old man
The victim of a fatal stabbing on Almond Avenue on Saturday afternoon has been identified by police only as a 56-year-old white male. His name was being withheld pending notification of relatives.
About 5 p.m. Saturday, Modesto police officers responded to the report of a stabbing on the 100 block of Almond, off McHenry Avenue about a quarter mile from downtown. The victim was found outside when officers arrived, said Lt. Ivan Valencia. He was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later.
Almond Avenue was blocked by a patrol car at McHenry Avenue for a few hours at least, and Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves said detectives and the crime scene investigation unit worked late into the night.
About half a block of Almond was taped off as the crime scene, starting from Johnson Street, just east of where the man was found. Many residents of the area were on the sidewalks, and officers were conducting interviews. A man held in the back of a patrol car was taken out and uncuffed early into the investigation.
There’s been no information released on whether the stabbing occurred in a home or outside, or what may have led to it. “We don’t have suspect information, we don’t have a motive or anything like that,” Valencia said.
Sunday morning, a few neighbors told The Bee they didn’t witness the stabbing or know who the man was. One across the street from the scene said police took the video captured by the surveillance camera on his porch. He hadn’t had a chance to watch the video, though, so did not know if it would be of help.
The Neighborhood Watch coordinator for Almond Avenue, a 15-year resident there, said there’s been a lot of suspicious behavior – people frequently coming and going, making short visits – at some houses on the block in recent years.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Detective Robert Gumm at 209-342-9162 or Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters may also text information to Crime Stoppers at 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message.
Bee staff writer Pat Clark contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 27, 2016 at 9:42 AM with the headline "Update: Victim in stabbing near downtown Modesto a 56-year-old man."