Five suspects, including two children, remain in custody following a stabbing incident over the weekend.

Monday, August 14, 2000

Five suspects, including two children, remain in custody following a stabbing incident over the weekend.

According to Austin Police Department reports, the stabbing victim was identified as Fernando Delacruz, 26, of Austin.

Jesus Rodriguez, 24, of Austin, was identified as the man who assaulted Delacruz, while four other companions either watched or participated, police said.

Delacruz was flown to a Rochester hospital by Mayo One air ambulance after being transferred from Austin Medical Center.

The stabbing apparently followed a domestic assault and criminal damage to property incident at 11:58 p.m. Saturday, police said. That occurred between Rodriguez and Jennifer A. Murphy, 24, of 309 Third Ave. SW, Apt. 2, over Murphy’s new romance with Delacruz, the victim of the beating and stabbing.

The pair were friends and business partners in restoring the former Righty’s Bar at the corner of Third Avenue and Second Street NE, where they announced plans for a Hispanic "gathering place."

Murphy allegedly punched Rodriguez in the face at a dance held at Riverside Arena Saturday night and then was seen vandalizing his vehicle while it was parked in the Mower County Senior Center parking lot, police said.

Murphy ran to the former Righty’s Bar, let her self inside and then locked the door, according to police.

At 1:38 a.m. Sunday, AMC personnel called police to report treating a man with stab and other wounds.

According to witnesses at the scene, Rodriguez and four companions entered the former Righty’s Bar and assaulted Delacruz with construction materials, including a level found at the scene with blood on it.

No knife was found at the scene, but witnesses reported one of the participants in the assault wielding a small knife.

Rodriguez and his companions were stopped by Austin police at 2:21 a.m. Sunday and jailed.