Stabbing leaves man dead in Oakhurst

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- UPDATE: Authorities have identified the man as Jacob Jerome Henderson, 45, of Oakhurst.

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A man is dead Saturday after a large fight in Oakhurst escalated into a stabbing, the Madera County Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities said the 46-year-old man from Oakhurst was stabbed after a fight between a group of people broke out at the parking lot of the Silver Creek Shopping Center near Highway 41 and Winding Way around 3 p.m.

A nearby sheriff's deputy attempted to treat the victim but the man died at the scene, an MCSO official said.

"We had one deputy in the area," Lt. Bill Ward with the Madera County Sheriff's Office said. "He was here within probably three or four minutes."

No arrests have been made.

After speaking with more than 10 witnesses, detectives are still trying to figure out a description of the suspect and account of how many people were involved.

Within an hour of the stabbing, authorities also responded to a crash less than a mile away that killed a speeding motorcyclist. Investigators are looking into whether the two incidents are related.

Bernard Verkler lives near the Vons where the medical helicopter landed to transport the patient and it was something that he calls a common occurrence.

"In the last six months, maybe six of them once a month or twice," he said. "Airlift is important for the patient. Time is crucial."