Long Beach police investigating West End slashing

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Long Beach police say a 25-year-old Oceanside man was slashed during an altercation in the West End early Sunday.

Police Commissioner Mike Tangney said Tuesday that the victim was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital and likely required more than 150 stitches after he was slashed in the face when he attempted to intervene during a fight on West Beech and Vermont streets at 3:39 a.m.

“The victim was cut from the top of his ear to his lip,” Tangney said.

Tangney said the victim and another man, an acquaintance, had been involved in a “minor” altercation with two other men at a West End bar earlier that evening. All involved left the bar and went their separate ways.

Later, Tangney said, the victim, while walking from another bar on West Beech Street, saw the man he had been hanging out with involved in another altercation with the two men from earlier that evening. Tangney said that the victim tried to break up an argument that escalated into “pushing and shoving.”

“The victim tried to diffuse it,” Tangney said. “While he was doing that, [one of the two men] pulls out a blade and slashes him.”

Tangney said police were called to the scene. He said it was unclear what sparked the argument between the men, and the victim did not know the attacker.

Tangney dismissed what he called rumors on social media that the incident was gang-related. The Police Department posted a statement on its Facebook page Tuesday, saying that it was in the process of apprehending a suspect but that statements made by residents were “wildly inaccurate.” Residents criticized officials for not sharing information about the incident until two days after the attack.

Tangney said that the investigation is ongoing, and urged anyone with information to contact Detective Rourke at (516) 705-7329 or the LBPD’s confidential tipline at (516) 705-7370 or email tips@lbpd.com. All callers will remain anonymous.