Stabbing At Napa Bar Investigated As Gang-Related: Police

NAPA, CA — An investigation was ongoing this week as to whether a stabbing at a Napa bar that left at least three people injured may have been gang-related, an official with the Napa Police Department said Thursday. The stabbing was reported at about 12:45 a.m. Monday at The Green Door, 2955 Solano Ave., according to Napa police Lt. Brian Campagna. Officers arrived on scene to find a 25-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper back, the lieutenant said.

Paramedics took the stabbing victim — whose name was not provided by police — by ambulance to a local hospital. When two more men also suffering from stab wounds arrived at the hospital, detectives with the Napa Police Department and its Special Enforcement Unit responded and took over the investigation, Campagna said.

The detectives began interviewing the patients as well as some witnesses.

It was determined that one of the patients, 21-year-old Napa resident Valentin Sanchez, who was being treated for non-life threatening injuries including a laceration to his face, had been stabbed while in a fight with another man at the bar, the lieutenant said.

Jose Rivera, 22, of Napa was identified by detectives as the other man who was allegedly involved in the fight with Sanchez, Campagna said.

Detectives also allege Rivera was the one who stabbed the 25-year-old located by officers when they first arrived at The Green Door.

On Wednesday, SEU detectives again made contact with Sanchez and Rivera.

Sanchez, on active parole through the California state prison system, was arrested and booked into Napa County jail for his alleged involvement in the stabbing.

Rivera was also arrested and booked into the county jail on suspicion of his involvement.

The third patient treated for stab wounds also suffered in the bar fight was described by police only as a 24-year-old man.

"SEU detectives are looking into whether this incident was gang-related," Campagna said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Curtis Madrigal at 707-257-9592 or cmadrigal@cityofnapa.org. Or, tips can be sent anonymously by texting the word 707NPD and the tip information to 847411.

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