Good Samaritan Fatally Stabbed When He Tries To Stop Harassment Of Homeless Man

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA.com) — Donnie Reed had just stepped outside a pool hall with friends early Sunday when he saw a group of men harassing a homeless man.

The husband and father of three didn't know that when he stepped in and intervened it would be the last thing he'd ever do.

The attackers turned a knife on Reed and his friends. The 39-year-old Rancho Cucamonga resident was dead less than an hour later.

Witnesses called officers around 2:30 a.m. to the 8900 block of Vineyard Avenue, outside Stix Sports and Grill.

By then, the attackers had fled. Reed had been stabbed in the chest and died at the hospital.

Another man was stabbed in the head and is in stable condition.

Reed's wife, Jenny, says she lost her best friend, hero and husband of 19 years to a senseless attack. Jenny and Donnie were high school sweethearts.

"I want him to stand in front of my kids and tell them why he took their daddy from them — that's all I want," Jenny told CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Brittney Hopper.

Donnie's wife says she just can't understand why this happened when her husband was trying to do the right thing.

"It was just Donnie being Donnie and trying to help somebody who needed help," she said.

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department is asking anyone with information about the incident to call Detective Daniel Hanke or Sgt. Trevis Newport at (909) 387-3589. Anonymous tips can be left at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or at www.wetip.com.