Vancouver man appears in court in stabbing

A Vancouver man appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of stabbing an 18-year-old man in the neck during a gathering at a residence in the city.

Francisco Leyva-Gonzalez, 27, will be arraigned May 30 on a charge of first-degree assault. Judge John Nichols held him in lieu of $25,000 bail and appointed Vancouver attorney Bob Vukanovich to defend Gonzalez.

Vancouver police were called to a residence in the 12900 block of Northeast 50th Street at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on a report of a fight and stabbing.

The victim’s roommate told police that he was sleeping when he heard noise downstairs and went to see what was happening, according to court papers. He said he saw the victim, Colby Haugen, and Gonzalez fighting, court papers say. At some point, Gonzalez allegedly stabbed Haugen in the neck with a pocketknife.

Haugen had a deep laceration to the front of his neck and was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center by a friend, according to court papers.

He was listed in satisfactory condition on Monday afternoon, a hospital spokesperson said.

Gonzalez told police that he stabbed Haugen because Haugen lunged at him, according to court papers.

Court records don’t reveal what caused the dispute.

Gonzalez has no criminal history, according to Deputy Prosecutor Julie Carmena.