BY JOHN HOPKINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Three local men remained at University Hospital on Wednesday after they were stabbed during an altercation outside Riverbend Music Center in Anderson Township on Tuesday night.
Authorities, who are still trying to identify two suspects, described the attack as rare for the neighborhood surrounding Riverbend and its Kellogg Avenue neighbors Coney Island and River Downs race track.
"About the only problems they generally have are use-of-alcohol- or open-container-type violations," said Hamilton County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Barnett. "This is out of the ordinary." So far this year, there have been about 36 assaults in all of Anderson Township - none involving weapons, according to township crime statistics compiled by the sheriff's office.
"As far back as anybody can go in the records, there has never been anything like this," said Mike Smith, general manager of Riverbend, which has operated for 15 years.
The three victims were attacked late Tuesday night outside a Van Halen concert; police were searching for two men who fled the scene in a black sports utility vehicle.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's office identified the victims Wednesday: Steven Plank, 25, of 2130 Weil Road in Moscow, Ohio, was listed in serious condition at University Hospital; Travis Stamper, 24, address unknown, was listed in critical condition; and Eric Jacob, 24, of 1763 Culver Court in Amelia was listed in good condition.
The confrontation occurred at 10:20 p.m. in the nearby parking lot of River Downs, the Gate 5 area. The three victims had been at the Van Halen concert, and while in the parking lot became involved in an altercation, the sheriff's office said.
The reason for the argument was unknown. Authorities did not know if it was drug or gang related.
The suspects were seen fleeing the Riverbend Music Center in a late model Chevy Tahoe, the sheriff's office said.
Hundreds of concertgoers were nearby, but were unaware of the altercation until after the concert.
Police were searching for two white men, both about 5 feet 9 inches tall. One man, about 30, was described as having short brown hair and a mustache. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and light-colored shorts. The other suspect has a thin build and was wearing a dark T-shirt, the sheriff's office said.
On the night of the stabbings, Riverbend provided security inside the concert, where about 7,000 people turned out, Mr. Smith said. Riverbend holds 18,000 and there were no problems reported inside the concert, he said.
Nearby Coney Island provided security in its parking areas, but not at the site of the stabbings, said Vic Nolting, president of Coney Island. A total of 36 security, police and parking personnel worked the night of the stabbing, he said.
"In 112 years of Coney, nothing like this has ever happened," Mr. Nolting said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to those young guys."
