Law enforcement tape marks off Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno on Thursday, where a senior Fresno County deputy district attorney was stabbed while filming a campaign commercial on break from his job. Photo courtesy of Fresno County Sheriff's Office

The senior deputy district attorney was on break from shooting a television commercial for a Fresno County Superior Court candidate when he was attacked, according to the candidate’s campaign.

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A senior Fresno County deputy district attorney was stabbed Thursday afternoon in Downtown Fresno’s Courthouse Park during the filming of a campaign commercial while on break from his job.

A suspect is in custody, according to statements from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.

Deputies responded within minutes

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers received a report at 1:13 p.m. of a man being stabbed in Courthouse Park. Deputies assigned to the courthouse responded to aid the victim and search for the suspect.

At 1:16 p.m., deputies found the suspect near the intersection of Fresno Street and Van Ness Boulevard, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies used a Taser to take the suspect into custody, and a weapon was recovered.

The victim, initially identified as an employee of the County of Fresno, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center. He was conscious, breathing and talking during transport, the Sheriff’s Office said.

District attorney condemns the attack

Smittcamp, in a statement, said the prosecutor was receiving medical care and being evaluated at the hospital. “We are outraged and deeply saddened by the brazen stabbing of one of our Senior Deputy District Attorneys this afternoon in Courthouse Park,” she said.

Smittcamp said her office would not release the prosecutor’s name out of respect for him and his family. “There is no place in our community for violence against those who serve it,” she said.

Prosecutor was filming a campaign ad

The prosecutor who was stabbed was with Ashley S. Paulson, Fresno’s chief assistant city attorney and a candidate for Fresno County Superior Court judge, and members of her campaign when the attack occurred, according to a statement from Paulson. She said the group was shooting a television commercial at Courthouse Park and the prosecutor was on break from his DA job.

“I am shocked and heartbroken by the violent attack on a Senior Deputy District Attorney who, while on break this afternoon, was with me and members of our campaign shooting a television commercial at Courthouse Park,” Paulson said. She described the prosecutor as a longtime colleague and close friend.

Investigators searching for a motive

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating and working to determine a motive, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Smittcamp said her office understood the Sheriff’s Office and MAGEC (Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium) were also investigating. She said the office would defer questions about the circumstances of the attack and the suspect to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect’s name was not available for release.