Suspect is arrested in stabbing of French train hero

A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with the October downtown Sacramento stabbing of U.S. Airman Spencer Stone, who along with two friends helped stop a potentially deadly terrorist attack on a European train in August, police said Wednesday.

James Tran was arrested on Wednesday morning and prosecutors filed a charge of attempted murder against him, officials said. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, a spokeswoman with the Sacramento County district attorney's office said.

Stone was stabbed multiple times on Oct. 8 in downtown Sacramento in the area of 21st and K streets, police said, after being out with friends. Detectives followed up on leads, witness interviews and tips from the community to identify Tran as the suspect, Sacramento Police Chief Sam Somers Jr. said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Two groups of people — one with Stone and the other with Tran — got into a verbal confrontation prior to the stabbing. The argument was over one of Tran's friends allegedly recording the women in Stone's group with a cell phone outside a nightclub, according to police.

Tempers simmered down until Tran "re-engaged'' Stone, and it escalated from there into a physical fight, according to Somers. Tran circled behind Stone and allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the back, he said.

Tran and his group, Somers said, did not know Stone prior to the incident.

"It is a great day for the city of Sacramento,'' Somers said of the arrest.

Police are continuing to investigate others who may have been involved in the incident.

Stone was at the Sacramento Kings' home opener in late October, where he told reporters his recovery was going well.

"Yeah, still feel like crap, but every day I get a little better,'' Stone said, according to KCRA-TV.

On Aug. 21, Stone, who was recently promoted to U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, and two friends were on a Paris-bound train when they tackled a potential terrorist who was armed with an AK-47.

Stone suffered cuts to his neck and left thumb in the incident after the suspect fought back with a box cutter.

The three men were hailed as heroes and had a parade held in their honor in Sacramento in September.