A young man is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in broad daylight on one of St. John’s busiest commercial streets, in an incident that began inside a phone store and ended in a violent confrontation on the pavement outside.

Reports indicate that the victim had entered a phone store on St. Mary’s Street and sat down when his wallet reportedly fell from his pocket. It is alleged that another young man who entered the store noticed the wallet and picked it up.

The situation escalated after the victim asked for the return of his property. At that point, the suspect is alleged to have begun removing money from the wallet and attempting to leave the premises.

When the victim confronted him outside the store, the altercation turned violent. It is alleged that the suspect used a pair of scissors to stab the victim before fleeing the scene.

The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition is reported to be stable and not life-threatening.

No arrest had been announced at the time of publication. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is investigating the incident.

The stabbing is the latest in a series of violent incidents to occur in and around St. John’s in recent weeks, raising ongoing concerns about public safety in the capital’s commercial district. Members of the public with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the suspect are urged to contact the St. John’s Police Station or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 800-TIPS (8477).