Laredo police say a man stabbed another man early Tuesday. He used a small pair of scissors. It happened on San Bernardo Avenue.

That street is one of the busiest in Laredo. It is full of shops and restaurants. People walk it day and night.

Police later found the man they say did the stabbing. He was hiding under a piece of cardboard. He was behind a business near the scene. Now he faces a serious felony charge.

This case shows how fast a fight can turn violent. It happened on a street that many Laredo families use every day. They shop there. They eat there. They just pass through.

Laredo police say officers got the call at about 2:50 a.m. Tuesday. They went to the 4200 block of San Bernardo Avenue. A man told police that someone had just stabbed him. He said the attacker ran off.

EMS crews came fast. They treated the man who got stabbed right there at the scene.

Police officers spread out. They searched the area block by block. They found a man hiding under cardboard behind a nearby business. Police say this is the man who did the stabbing. They named him as 43 year old Jose Salazar.

Officers took Salazar into custody. They also found a small pair of scissors nearby. Police say those scissors were the weapon used in the stabbing.

Jail records show Salazar was booked into the Webb County Jail. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In plain words, that is a serious felony. It can mean 2 to 20 years in prison if a jury finds him guilty. Right now Salazar is only charged. He has not been convicted. Under the law, he is innocent until a court says otherwise.

San Bernardo Avenue cuts through the heart of Laredo. It is lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. Laredo police have worked other violent cases on this same street this year. The mix of foot traffic and late night business keeps officers busy in that part of town.

Many stabbings start as small arguments. They turn into something worse in just seconds. Police have not said what started the fight between Salazar and the man who got hurt. That is still an open question.

As of Thursday afternoon, Salazar was still locked up in the Webb County Jail. His bond was set at 30,000 dollars. That means he must pay that amount, or use a bail bond company, to get out while his case moves through court.

Police have not said how badly the victim was hurt. It is not known if his injuries were life threatening. It is also not known if he has left the hospital.

Laredo police have not said if Salazar knew the man he is accused of stabbing. Investigators have not shared a motive either.

This case now heads to the Webb County court system. A grand jury must look at the evidence first. Only then can Salazar be formally charged in court. No court date has been set yet.

Laredo sits right on the border with Mexico. It is one of the busiest trade cities in Texas. Trucks cross the bridges all day. Shoppers fill streets like San Bernardo Avenue at all hours. That mix of people and traffic is part of daily life in Laredo.

Violent crime along San Bernardo Avenue worries many residents and business owners. Shop owners depend on foot traffic to make a living. A stabbing right on the sidewalk can scare off customers for weeks. Neighbors say they want to feel safe walking to the store or catching a bus on that street.

Cases like this one also show why police response time matters. Officers reached the scene fast on Tuesday. That fast response helped EMS treat the victim right away. It also helped officers find and arrest a suspect within a short time of the call.

El Tejano will keep following this case. We will share new facts as police and the Webb County Jail release them.

Anyone who saw what happened is asked to call the Laredo Police Department.