San Diego police are still looking for a teen suspected of stabbing a man at the Sunburst Housing Project in East Village, operated by The Center.

The 24-year-old victim, a Sunburst Housing Project resident, is hospitalized with a serious chest wound after a confrontation inside his apartment escalated, resulting in the stabbing at about 5:15 p.m. last Monday, San Diego police said.

SDPD Lt. Ken Stewart described the suspect as a Latino male, between 17 and 20, 5 feet 7 inches, wearing tan pants and a white shirt with blue pin stripes.

“It appears that the victim and the suspect were acquainted in some way and were not strangers, and somehow a dispute turned into a fight and then into a stabbing,” Stewart said. “After the suspect stabbed the victim, causing serious chest injuries, he then ran out of the building and hopped onto a bus, fleeing the area.”

Officers stopped three buses and scrutinized the passengers, but didn’t find the suspect.

Police have not released the victim’s name, but authorities did say the Sunburst resident is being closely monitored and remains in serious, but not life threatening, condition in the intensive care unit, after being rushed to a local hospital and undergoing surgery for serious wounds to his chest.

“Obviously we are very concerned that this type of violence occurred at one of our facilities. Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with this man as he receives medical attention for his wounds,” said Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center.

“In addition to our serious concerns for the welfare of this man, we are also concerned with the safety and well-being of the residents at the Sunburst Housing Project. We are, and will continue to be, providing counseling and other support services to those who need them. In addition, until this situation is better understood and/or resolved, extra security precautions will be taken,” Jacobs said.

“Because this is an isolated incident and virtually across the street from [police] headquarters, there are always several officers in the area, and it is not being addressed with extra patrol,” Stewart said.

According to both law enforcement and officials from The Center, the stabbing is the first violent crime at the Sunburst Housing Project, which opened approximately 16 months ago. The first housing facility for GLBT youth in the San Diego area, Sunburst Housing Project houses 23 formerly homeless 18- to 24-year-olds who meet income and other criteria. The facility has a resident property manager, along with case managers and social workers who offer social services and guidance to residents.

At the time of the stabbing, the property manager was on the site, but other staff members were at an off-site meeting and responded by the time police arrived.

“The facility has strict policies and procedures in place should such incidents occur,” Jacobs said, explaining that these include immediate response from local authorities and ensuring the safety of everyone in the facility. She said that she was pleased with the response from local police and Center staff regarding the situation.

“We have counselors who are working with residents who want to talk to someone about the incident, and we’ve added additional security for the time being until the suspect is apprehended in an effort to make the residents feel more comfortable,” Jacobs said.

The incident has also been disturbing for staff members who work at the facility. “The staff members who work at the housing project particularly care about these young men and women. Anything that disturbs their progress is really upsetting to staff, who feel very protective because they work so hard to help these youth to improve their lives. So having an incident like this occur is very distressing for everyone involved,” said Jacobs, an instrumental player in Sunburst’s opening.

The night after the stabbing, the housing project held a meeting for Sunburst residents, and participants had mixed reaction to the incident. Some residents expressed fear over the incident, while others said that this situation is normal and didn’t bother them too much, given where they come from and past living arrangements, Jacobs said.

“In some housing projects, stuff like this happens all the time, and while they still found it sad, it wasn’t shocking for some residents.”

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact law enforcement authorities.