A festive weekend in Half Moon Bay took a violent turn Saturday evening when a stabbing broke out amidst the tail-end of the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival. Authorities have arrested a 34-year-old Pacifica man in connection with the attack, which officials say was linked to local gang activity.
Ricardo Raya was taken into custody shortly after the incident, which occurred on Main Street around 8:30 p.m. According to a news release from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, deputies patrolling the area spotted Raya fleeing the scene. During the pursuit, the suspect was observed discarding a knife, which was subsequently recovered by law enforcement.
The victim, a 31-year-old man, was transported to a nearby hospital where he remains in stable condition. While the festival drew massive crowds—estimated at upwards of 60,000 people throughout the day—officials confirmed that both the suspect and the victim are believed to be involved in criminal street gang activities.
Chris Cheeseman, owner of the San Benito House cantina located near the site of the altercation, captured the incident on his establishment’s security cameras. He described a tense buildup before the violence erupted.
“They were in the street for about 10 minutes and then somebody else came out and started pointing at them and that’s what started it,” Cheeseman said in a phone interview Sunday. “It was just a couple of people that were young and not making good decisions. They were just shoving each other around.”
Cheeseman noted that the festival atmosphere remained heavy on Main Street long after the official daytime events concluded. He described a scene where many revelers continued to linger, carrying cans of beer and pre-mixed cocktails well into the night.
“The street stays closed all day and all night,” Cheeseman said. “They just keep kind of going up and down the street. It’s just people being very drunk.”
Following his arrest, Raya was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility. He faces serious charges, including attempted murder and participation in a criminal street gang.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing and is urging any witnesses who have not yet come forward to assist in the case. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached directly at 650-363-4911. For those who wish to provide information while remaining unidentified, anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-547-2700.
While the incident cast a shadow over the high-profile annual event, authorities emphasized that the swift response by nearby deputies helped ensure the suspect was apprehended immediately without further injury to the remaining festival crowds.
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