Fresno prosecutor was targeted in retaliatory Courthouse Park stabbing, DA Smittcamp says

Updated 10 minutes ago
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp is releasing new information on what she says was an act of retaliation by the suspect in the stabbing of a deputy district attorney at Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from a previous broadcast and will be updated.

During an interview with KMJ, our news partner, Smittcamp said Dustin Crawford was sentenced in the past for a case handled by this prosecutor.

Smittcamp said Crawford approached a group on Thursday afternoon that was shooting a campaign commercial for Ashley Paulson and said he knew who they were.

She added that the suspect then singled out the prosecutor and stabbed him three times in the back.

RELATED: Courthouse Park stabbing victim identified as Fresno County senior deputy district attorney

The attorney was rushed to the hospital for treatment, and Smittcamp said he's since been released.



Crawford has a criminal history, and Smittcamp believes this incident is a result of California's criminal justice reform failures.

She is calling for an end to the state's "Hug a Thug" policies.

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office is handling the stabbing case.



Crawford is in the Fresno County Jail with a $1 million bail.

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