Police responding to reports of a large fight in the street in front of a house party discovered a Banning man fatally stabbed, police and coroners officials said.
The name of the dead man was not released pending positive identification and confirmation that his family had been notified, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
The fight, which involved an unknown number of people, was reported about 3 a.m. on Vernon Avenue, between Gladstone Street and Paramount Street, Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe said.
All of the combatants had fled the area when officers arrived except for one man found badly at the scene.
“As officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old male resident of Banning laying on the sidewalk with multiple stab wounds to his upper body,” Sutcliffe said. He was rushed to an area trauma center where he died from his injuries a short time later.
A second man who also had multiple stab wounds to his upper body was brought the a hospital by a friend, Sutcliffe said. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
The age and city of the surviving victim were withheld by detectives due to the ongoing investigation, he added.
The circumstances and motive of the stabbing remained under investigation, the sergeant said.
“That’s exactly what (detectives) are trying to piece together,” Sutcliffe said.
No suspect description was available.
A nearby resident who asked that his name be withheld said he rode down the street about 9:30 p.m. Saturday night.
There was a party with loud music near the stabbing scene late Saturday, as well as a group of men congregated out front, the resident said. But there were no signs of trouble.
Police kept Vernon Avenue shut down between Gladstone Street and Paramount Street well into the afternoon as they continued their investigation.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Azusa police at 626-812-3200.