A Nigerian-born student body president was stabbed and wounded as he walked home from a party at California State Univesity-Chico, police stated.
Joseph Igbineweka is in stable condition at a local hospital after being stabbed four times in what police have said was a racially motivated hate crime. He was apparently stalked as two white men followed Igbineweka from a party, hurling racial slurs before attacking him. Igbineweka called the ambush unprovoked.
According to police reports, Igbineweka walked by the men, who sprayed multiple invectives at him. He tried to ignore them and kept walking, but the men followed him in an area adjacent to Cal State where students reside. Igbineweka turned around to face his tormentors and quickly had to defend himself against punches. One of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed the Nigerian four times in the neck, chest, arm and stomach. The attacker then fled on foot. The most serious wound was inflicted on Igbineweka’s arm.
Police, who were in the area already, were alerted and got a description of the attackers from the victim.
One of the alleged attackers, 19-year-old Barry Sayavong of Chico, was arrested soon after the stabbings and charged with attempted murder and a hate crime, police said. No word yet if he is or was a student at Cal State.
“I’m just happy they caught one of the guys,” Igbineweka told the Chico Enterprise-Record. “It’d be much more painful if they hadn’t caught him. I’m praying they give this guy maximum punishment.”
Police are still investigating and are looking for other suspects. –terry shropshire
