Man Stabbed Over Not Wearing Mask In Grocery Store: Police

SANTA MONICA, CA — A man is hospitalized with stab wounds Tuesday after what witnesses say was a dispute over him not wearing a mask at a grocery store in Santa Monica.

A security guard confronted the man who refused to wear a mask inside Vons at 710 Broadway about 10:35 p.m. Monday and an argument quickly escalated, according to witnesses.

"There was a tussle" between the security guard and the victim, witness Andre Berryman told ABC7, and ultimately the security guard pulled a out a knife and stabbed the victim, according to Berryman.

"At the conclusion of the fight, the customer exited the main entrance where he was located by officers," according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

The man was taken to a hospital, police said. His condition was not immediately released.

A mask mandate for Los Angeles went into effect on Monday and Los Angeles County has a mask mandate in place in indoor settings.

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

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