Chico Police Department

Type of Incident: Assault with Deadly Weapon- Stabbing

Location of Incident: 1000 Columbus Ave #7, Chico

Date/Time Occurred: 05-08-08 0415 hrs

Date/Time of Arrest: 05-08-08 0436 hrs

Incident Case Number: 08-3992

Victim: Lance Watkins, 44 years old

Suspect: Jeremiah Hays, 18 years old

Narrative:

On 5/8/08 at 0419 hrs, Chico Police dispatchers received a telephone call from the Enloe Hospital Emergency Room regarding a stabbing victim who had arrived by private vehicle. Officers responded to contact the victim, Lance Watkins. The victim reported that he’d been stabbed by his nephew, Jeremiah Hays outside the apartment where they both live at 1000 Columbus Avenue.

The victim was suffering from 4 stab wounds to the chest which were so significant that he was rushed into surgery.

Officers responded to 1000 Columbus and made contact at apartment #7. There, Officers contacted 18 year old Jeremiah Hays, who was still in possession of the knife believed to have been used in the stabbing. Officers took Hays into custody and he was transported to the Chico Police Department.

Detectives assigned to the investigation are still trying to determine what the motive for the stabbing was. It appears that there was some sort of verbal altercation between Hays and Watkins outside the apartment just prior to the stabbing. The exact nature of the dispute is unknown.

At the time of this release, the victim is recovering from surgery and is expected to survive the injuries.