At least 3 stabbed during melee in Long Beach

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- At least three people were hospitalized with stab wounds after a melee erupted as bars were closing in the Alamitos Beach neighborhood of Long Beach Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred when a group of drunken men became involved in a verbal confrontation between the 1100 and 1400 block of E. 4th Street at about 2 a.m., Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Jake Heflin said. One person then pulled out a knife from his pocket.

Three people were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening stab wounds and a fourth person was listed in critical condition. No arrests were immediately made and it was unknown which bar those involved had exited.

Investigators were still trying to sort out exactly what led up to the stabbings.

"We still don't know who the victims are and who the suspects are," Long Beach police spokesman Lt. David Faris said.

Fourth Street was shut down from Nebraska Avenue to Almond Street until 5:30 a.m. for the investigation.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report