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A stabbing at a downtown Stockton bus stop has shaken the city's political community after the victim was identified by city leaders and political candidates as a consultant working on at least two active City Council campaigns.
The attack happened around 6 p.m. Thursday near Commerce Street and Weber Avenue, about three blocks from Stockton City Hall and near Stockton Police Headquarters.
Police said 30-year-old Domenique Whitfield approached the 54-year-old victim while he was sitting at a bus stop, accused him of "being nosy," pulled out a knife and stabbed him.
Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee said the victim was stabbed five times.
"He was stabbed five times by a transient who thought that he was spying on them in the area," Lee said.
Lee said he spoke with the victim after the attack.
"I called him the next day. Was able to talk to him," Lee said. "He was in the hospital for a few days, five days; he was discharged today. He is healing. Obviously, he survived. But, being stabbed five times is wild."
Police arrested Whitfield shortly after the stabbing and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect is also facing sentencing enhancements for having a prior serious felony and is expected to appear in court Thursday in downtown Stockton.
Lee said the attack has heightened concerns about public safety in Stockton.
"This could've happened to anybody. This comes a week after we just had a shooting of one of our peacekeepers in District Five. This happened in District Five. And so, yeah, obviously there's lots of concerns around public safety," Lee said.
In a statement, the two campaigns the consultant works for called on City Hall to enhance support for law enforcement and continue investing in violence prevention.
"Everybody knows if you have a strong, safe downtown, you have a stronger, safer city. I'm happy to report that my district is statistically right now the safest in the city. We've done a lot by implementing the police substation. We have business and community watch groups. We have public safety conversations and forums with our police department. We have a very active social media page, the Weston Ranch Forum. We're really integrated into all the things moving in District Six to make it safer. That's what I want for the rest of the city," Lee said. "Us as a council, we have to continue to do more to support our law enforcement officers, but also work in partnership with our community to make it safer."
The San Joaquin Regional Transit District did not respond to a request for comment on the bus stop stabbing.
Watch more from ABC10: Stockton peacekeeper shot while working to prevent violence
