Santa Monica police investigate apparent stabbing of homeless man

Santa Monica police appealed to the public Tuesday for information about the apparent stabbing of a homeless man who was sleeping on a bus bench blocks from the Third Street Promenade.

A passerby encountered the man in his late 50s bleeding about 5:45 a.m.Tuesday in the 500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard and then called police, department officials said.

The victim, who was not immediately identified, was conscious. He was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in guarded condition.

Detectives recovered a large knife at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Robbery-Homicide Unit at (310) 458-8437 or the main Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8495.

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--Andrew Blankstein

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Photo: Approximate location of incident shown in black. Credit: Los Angeles Times Mapping L.A.