NORFOLK, Va. — Two men are hurt after a stabbing in Park Place yesterday, Norfolk police said.
Officers found two men with minor lacerations on 25th Street just after 5:30 p.m.
Investigators believe the stabbing happened just blocks away on 28th Street near the corner of Newport Avenue.
Police arrested 23-year-old Jesus Garcia Pirala in connection to the stabbing.
Investigators believe Pirala and the two victims are coworkers and that the violence stemmed from an argument.
Pirala faces two counts of malicious wounding. He’s in Norfolk City Jail without bond.
The most recent stabbing brings the total number of stabbing victims in the city to five since Saturday.
On Saturday, two people were stabbed just an hour apart near Military Circle Mall.
Two days later, a stabbing in West Ocean View left one person hurt.
The recent string of violence has community activists raising alarms.
“As individuals, what are we contributing to help suppress this violence taking place," said Bilal Muhammad with Stop the Violence Team.
Muhammad said arguments leading to violence happen all too often.
“Is it really worth this? Can we sit down and talk about it," he asked. "There’s no winner in a situation like this.”
Angela Parker, team coordinator with Sentara Norfolk General’s Foresight Violence Prevention Program, said the emergency department saw 92 stabbing victims last year. So far this year, they've seen 21.
“Although that number may be low for the year so far, it’s higher than what it was this time last year," she said.
When it comes to curbing the violence, Parker said we need more boots on the ground.
“...To work with individuals where they are and bring about the services that are needed," she said.