6 hurt in overnight stabbing in downtown Raleigh after fight
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Six people were stabbed early Saturday morning in downtown Raleigh after a fight broke out on Fayetteville Street, police said.
The stabbings happened around 12:18 a.m. between the 200 and 400 blocks of Fayetteville Street. Raleigh police said a fight broke out between a group of people and one man, leading to multiple victims being injured.
Investigators said the incident was not random and involved people who knew each other. The violence prompted questions from business owners and community members about safety downtown and what, if anything, could have prevented the attack.
"Any incident that's on a large scale to be publicized, I think, is worthy to be questioned," said Shene'e Howell of Raleigh.
Kyle Taylor, owner of The Anchor on Fayetteville Street, said he witnessed the confrontation.
"It was two groups walking in opposite directions, and they just got into a verbal argument that escalated," Taylor said.
Investigators identified the suspect as Frank Lalich, 35, who now faces four counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Police said Lalich remains hospitalized, recovering from his own injuries.
In total, six people were taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the victims are expected to be OK.
The incident left some residents questioning conditions downtown, while others said they still feel safe.
"Was it something specific happening down here where it's not good crowd control, maintenance or management, something of that nature?" Howell said. "I don't feel unsafe, actually. I actually feel pretty calm."
In a statement to ABC11, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance acknowledged community concern following the stabbings.
"While this appears to be an isolated incident between individuals, we understand it's unsettling for the community, and we encourage continued focus and resources on making Downtown Raleigh safe," said Bill King, Downtown Raleigh Alliance President & CEO.
During a one-on-one interview in February 2026, Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce said the department had placed additional resources downtown over the last year to address safety challenges.
"That started with having a dedicated hospitality district with a captain, a lieutenant, sergeants, and dedicated officers that are in that area every single day," Boyce said.
Taylor said Fayetteville Street tends to be quieter when police presence is more visible and added that longer-term changes could also help.
"We just want to see more different diverse businesses on the street. There's still a lot of vacancies, and so more fun things to do down here will bring us more people down here. That and a little bit of proactive police patrolling," he said.
Raleigh police declined an interview request Saturday about staffing and patrols Friday night into Saturday morning on Fayetteville Street and instead referred to a statement released Saturday morning. The department said investigators are still working to gather more details about what happened and urged anyone with information to contact police.
The full statement from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is below.
"We are deeply concerned by what happened late last night on Fayetteville Street, and our thoughts are with those who were injured.
We're grateful to the Raleigh Police Department for their quick response and for swiftly identifying a suspect. While this appears to be an isolated incident between individuals, we understand it's unsettling for the community, and we encourage continued focus and resources on making Downtown Raleigh safe.
Downtown Raleigh's Ambassador team is on the ground seven days a week to contribute to the overall safety of downtown by patrolling the public realm and working closely with the Raleigh Police Department and other safety partners.
The Ambassadors also provide hospitality, visibility, and support to visitors and businesses. Our team patrols throughout downtown and addresses non-violent offenses, as well as reporting serious issues to Raleigh Police. We also have a special Public Safety Unit that patrols this particular part of downtown daily, and our team provides free Safe Walks to anyone in downtown upon request to ensure everyone feels comfortable moving throughout our district. To request assistance from an Ambassador, please call the hotline at 919-368-7962.
We encourage anyone downtown to stay alert and report anything concerning. We remain committed to ensuring that downtown remains a welcoming and vibrant place for everyone.
Bill King, President & CEO
Downtown Raleigh Alliance"
