Police seek clues in Petaluma stabbing

Petaluma police are seeking the public’s help to fill in the blanks about a potentially gang-related stabbing that took place late Friday night at Buffalo Billiards, Sgt. Ed Crosby said.

Around 11:40 p.m., police responded to the 246 Petaluma Blvd. North pool hall after an employee reported a stabbing had occurred, Crosby said.

When officers arrived, there were no suspects or victims in the area, though a young man with a large slash wound to his torso arrived at the Petaluma Valley Hospital about 20 minutes later by private transport, Crosby said.

Though the victim initially identified himself as being 18, officers later determined he was a minor, Crosby said. Details about the teen’s place of residence were not immediately available.

The 17-year-old, who had a “substantial gash wound” underwent surgery, though his injuries aren’t considered life-threatening, Crosby said.

“He was very lucky in the sense that it could have been fatal if it had been deeper,” he said,

Crosby said officers determined the incident may have been gang-related, though he was not able to provide additional details.

Officers don’t currently have any direct witnesses to the alleged stabbing, Crosby said, and the teen has been “evasive” in providing police with information about the incident. A description of a suspect or suspects was not available, though he said officers are reviewing camera footage and asking for the community’s help to find clues.

“We had some things we were working over the weekend and none panned out,” he said. “We’re hoping someone that’s in the know can come forward and give us a tip.”

Those with information about the incident are asked to contact Detective Nick McGowan at 778-4456.