What was supposed to be a reunion between two friends turned into an aggravated assault when a man was stabbed multiple times by a group of masked men at Donnelly Park, according to the Turlock Police Department.

The victim was able to escape the assault and drove himself to the hospital, which in turn contacted the police department.

The victim stated he had gone to Donnelly Park shortly before 10 p.m. Friday to meet with a woman he knew from high school.

The two were at the park when a group of six to seven males wearing ski masks approached and “indicated to each other they were going to rob him,” said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Parmley.

The masked males assaulted the victim with bottles and a baseball bat. The victim, under attack, was able to make his way to his car and fled the park.

The victim had non-life-threatening injuries from the assault, Parmley said.

This was not the first occasion in which an individual was attacked by a group at Donnelly Park. In December 2017, Cameron Tracy of Patterson was beaten by four masked assailants at the park. The attackers used a metal baseball bat to beat Tracy. He was in a coma for nine days before he was declared brain dead and taken off life support on Dec. 13, 2017.

The four assailants, which included two juveniles, were later apprehended and prosecuted for Tracy’s death, as well as a string of robberies that had happened at the park. 

Evidence of the recent assault was located at the park and collected. There also is a camera in the park that may assist investigators. The investigation is ongoing.