Breaking: Basketball player stabbed on Lafayette Street

By Genna Tan

Santa Clara police responded to a stabbing incident involving senior John Bryant early Saturday morning at about 1:20 a.m. Bryant's injuries, which witnesses said included stab wounds on his back, were not life-threatening.

"From what I understand, a fight had ensued between the victim and his attackers," said Sgt. Kurt Clarke of the Santa Clara Police Department. "I cannot confirm if either the suspects or the victim had been drinking before."

Bryant is a center for the men's basketball team. He started 30 out of 31 games in his junior season, according to the Santa Clara athletic Web site.

The three male suspects are not in custody, said Sgt. Clarke.

"The Santa Clara student has been released from the hospital after receiving medical attention," said Matthew Duncan, associate dean for student life, in an e-mail to the campus community.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Lafayette and Market Streets, near the Dunne parking lot.

Freshman Cesar Cadena who had been waiting at the Dunne parking lot for his friend, said he witnessed the commotion involving the victim and his attackers.

"It just seemed like a surreal experience because it just happened there in front of everyone," said Cadena. "I was like, 'Really? Is he stabbing him in front of all these people?'"

Cadena said he saw attackers jump onto Bryant, but were thrown off by him.

"The guy was really big, so he fought them off and ended up throwing a guy off him," said Cadena. "A couple of his friends jumped in to help him, too."

"Another attacker came from behind and stabbed his lower back," said Cadena. "I thought I saw him get stabbed more than once."

For an expanded version of this story, see Thursday's issue of The Santa Clara.