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LONG BEACH (CNS) - A man who was fatally stabbed aboard a Metro A (Blue) Line train in Long Beach appeared to be specifically targeted by three assailants who physically assaulted him before one of the suspects stabbed him multiple times in the upper body, police said Thursday.
Long Beach police responded shortly after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to reports of a stabbing aboard the train in the 100 block of East First Street, and found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to the upper body. Paramedics were called and took the man to a hospital, where he died.
The man was not immediately identified, with police saying only he appeared to be in his 20s.
According to police, investigators determined that the victim boarded the Metro train in an undisclosed area outside of Long Beach. At some point after the train entered Long Beach, three male suspects boarded the train and immediately approached the victim and physically assaulted him, police said. During the attack, one of the suspects pull out a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times, according to police.
The suspects fled the scene on foot near First Street and Pine Avenue, police said.
Long Beach police said they are still trying to determine a motive for the attack, but it "does not appear to be random," meaning the victim was specifically targeted.
The fatal attack occurred six days after stabbings were reported aboard a Metro B (Red) Line train in the Hollywood area and near the Metro Westlake/MacArthur Park station. A suspect was arrested Saturday in connection with the Hollywood attack.
Anyone with information regarding the fatal Long Beach attack was asked to contact Homicide Detectives Donald Collier or Chasen Contreras at 562- 570-7244. Callers who choose to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.