MONROE — Monroe police are investigating a stabbing reported by Monroe Clinic staff after a man arrived at the ER early Monday morning with injuries from an alleged fight involving four to six men outside a duplex in the city.

The 42-year-old victim had been stabbed once during the altercation but the wound was non-life threatening, according to Chief of Police Fred Kelley.

Kelley said Wednesday that officers have an idea who the assailant is but had not yet been able to positively identify him because people at the scene claim not to know his full name and give only a nickname or street name for him. He is described as a Hispanic man.

“Our suspicion is that they know this guy,” Kelley said. “I think they know more than what they’re saying.” 

The incident occurred in the front parking lot of a duplex in the 2300 block of 12th Street. Kelley estimates the victim was stabbed 30 to 60 minutes before his arrival at the Monroe Clinic ER around 1 a.m. Monday.

Others present at the scene brought the victim to the ER. When interviewed by police, they said the fight started with pushing and shoving and then took a more violent turn.

“What they’re telling us is it was just a dispute and it turned more violent than anyone thought it would,” Kelley said.

The victim and the man police believe to be the assailant live in the area but not in Monroe, Kelley said. He added that the fight appears to have been personal in nature.

“We don’t believe the public is in danger,” he said. “This is a personal thing.” 

The incident remains under investigation.