French Train Hero Spencer Stone Stabbed in California, Expected to Make Full Recovery
— -- One of the three Americans who helped stop a terrorist attack on a train this August in France has been stabbed and is in stable condition, a defense department official confirmed to ABC News.
Spencer Stone, a member of the U.S. Air Force, was reportedly attacked at approximately 1 a.m. PT, according to an Air Force spokesperson. The attack took place in the area of 21st Street and K Street in Sacramento, Calif. The Sacramento Police later added on Twitter that the "assault occurred near a bar, alcohol is believed to be a factor."
Surveillance footage taken from a liquor store security camera shows Stone wearing a long-sleeved white shirt. Stone's shirt becomes stained, presumably from blood, from the altercation.
ABC News affiliate KXTV reported that Stone suffered multiple stab wounds to his torso.
"It is believed that the victim was out with a group of friends when a physical altercation led to the victim being stabbed multiple times in his upper body," the public information officer for the Sacramento Police Department said in a statement to KXTV. "Detectives were called to the scene to assist with the investigation and the victim is currently being treated for what appears to be non-life threatening injuries."
UC Davis Health System, where Stone is currently being treated, released a statement saying that he is in "serious" condition but his family "appreciates the outpouring of love and support."
Dr. J. Douglas Kirk, the medical director at UCDMC, said that Stone is expected to make a full recovery. He underwent surgery after suffering three stab wounds to the torso and was heavily sedated.
The incident is under investigation by local law enforcement.
Stone, 23, was traveling on board a train headed to Paris with two friends when the train came under attack by a gunman.
Stone ran at the gunman and later said in an interview released by the Pentagon that he remembered thinking "I'm going to get shot, I'm dead."
Stone lives in Carmichael, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento. He had to have surgery to reattach his thumb after it was cut off with a box cutter by the attacker on the train.
Stone and his friends Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler received the Legion of Honor medal, France's highest honor.
Skarlatos posted a message on Twitter this morning once news broke of Stone's injury.
Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here.
