A USC student was stabbed outside a San Francisco bar early Saturday morning after he and his friends became involved in a fight with 10 individuals while visiting the area for the USC-Stanford football game, according to police.
Kellen Spani, a senior majoring in business administration, was in stable condition Monday after being admitted to San Francisco General Hospital for stab wounds to the neck and chest.
San Francisco Police Department Sgt. Tomioka said Spani was stabbed at around 1:30 a.m. after coming to the aid of one of his friends outside the Balboa Café. Spani did not appear to be the aggressor in the fight, she said.
“There was a lot of pushing and shoving prior to the stabbing,” Tomioka said. “It seems that this young man tried to calm things down.”
Two suspects involved in the stabbing have been booked on charges of attempted murder, with one felony charge for each. Tomioka didn’t know what sort of weapon was used in the fight, except to say that it was some kind of blade.
Spani, who is still at San Francisco General Hospital with his parents, is being kept for observation and will return to his hometown of Seattle, before hopefully coming back to USC after Thanksgiving, said John Leggitino, vice president of communication for Interfraternity Council.
T.J. Lowther, a senior majoring in English, was at the bar when the fight started. He said the fight quickly spilled outside, and had to be broken up by the bar’s bouncers. Lowther said Spani was bleeding and asking for someone to call 9-1-1.
Jack Miner, president of Spani’s fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, said that according to other students at the bar, the fight started when a group of young males seemed to be taunting Spani and other USC students and alumni.
“Kellen basically got in the middle of it and was trying to defend one of our alumni,” said Miner. “Thank god he’s going to be okay; that’s definitely everybody’s number one concern.”
Vice President for Student Affairs Michael L. Jackson said the incident is a reminder to the USC community to remain vigilant.
“Unfortunately, things happen. They’re very frightening,” Jackson said. “We’ve had thousands of students go to Stanford, go to Berkeley, and nothing like this has ever happened.”
Student stabbed at SF bar
Male student was in stable condition after being stabbed in chest, neck in bar fight.
Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Updated: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
12 comments
Kelly
Brian...even though there is no mention of your heroics in the article, we know that your quick reaction to the situation was a selfless deed and ultimately saved this mans life. That is just what type of person you are! I am so proud that you are my brother!
Brian
I witnessed this altercation last weekend and helped the victim before the paramedics arrived. I've been scouring the internet over the past week looking for some closure on this. I'm incredibly pleased to hear that he's doing well.
AK
USC students basically over-ran the Marina area that night. Whoever stabbed Kellen should be locked up. They must be in a gang, or have done this before, because who the hell goes out for a good time in the Marina and brings their knife along just in case they get into (start a) fight. Balboa owners need to pay attention to the max capacity...
SFDC
I thought Trojans were tough
Pam, Jeff and Joey
I am absolutely sick about this happening to our Kellen. I have known of him his whole life and you just couldn't ask for a nicer guy with a fabulous family behind him. God Bless he and his family. Hang in there! The Leach's from Seattle are praying for you!!
Your name
I am absolutely sick about this happening to our Kellen. I have known of him his whole life and you just couldn't ask for a nicer guy with a fabulous family behind him. God Bless he and his family. Hang in there! The Leach's from Seattle are praying for you!!
John
Kellen is a great man and was defending his friends as they were being attacked. God Bless Kellen and his family. Our prayers are with you.
M
maybe jake was thinking about the two people who just died over an argument becuase of the Alabama - LSU game. not exactly stereotyping when that just happened about a week ago.
Ann
All right guys. Stop this immature behavior of bantering over who is better.......Northern California or Southern California! You are a perfect example of today's society that manifests itself in tragic incidents as this stabbing. You know as well as I do, that crime happens everywhere! Was it profiling or taunting perhaps because some were wearing USC clothing? Whatever, I've heard Kellen is a very nice person and his intentions were honorable. The Balboa Cafe is a very respectable bar/cafe in the beautiful and safe Marina area of San Francisco. The biggest lesson for all, is to do your best to turn the other cheek and walk away from a confrontation. We should all be concentrating on wishing Kellen good thoughts and a speedy recovery. He is lucky to be alive!
S.
I'm not responding well to Jake's comment either. The funny thing is, the Bay Area has two of the Top 10 most dangerous cities; Oakland and Richmond. S.F. ranks in the Top 100 most dangerous, with L.A. far below at 135th (see: CQ Press 2007 Safest City Award - “MOST DANGEROUS" RANK ORDER).I've lived all over; New York, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Southern Cal and now in Northern Cal for 11 years. Frankly, there's a different regional attitude in the Bay Area. It's a general elitism that sometimes manifests itself in angry, aggressive behavior. This includes a disdain for Southern California; it's people, schools, etc. It's practically a religion.I'm not saying Jake is one of these people, but I do think his comment is a reflection of the region's general attitude, and underscores my larger point. For me, between the crime rate, regional attitude, and my own personal experiences living in the Bay Area, the stabbing incident doesn't surprise me at all.
Kathy
Wow, are you ever guilty of stereotyping! "Expect this sort of thing in the South" Or is that geographical profiling?
Jake
You expect this sort of thing in the South because of their obsession with football but not here. Thank god he is a all right. It's justt been a terrible year for USC students with the murder and now this BS.
