Merced police say they arrested a man for stabbing a man at the Merced Target parking lot.

Officers responded to Mercy Hospital for reports of a stabbing victim at around 10:38 Thursday afternoon.

Merced Police Detectives arrested 60-year-old Steven Anthony Perez of Merced for attempted murder.

Perez was wanted for nearly stabbing a man to death after an altercation in the Target parking lot.

Officers located video surveillance of the incident. The victim was sitting in his vehicle after shopping at Target. Perez was leaving the parking lot on a bicycle when he and the victim had a brief verbal altercation.

Several minutes later, Perez returned with a knife that he bought at Target. Perez repeatedly stabbed the victim who was still seated in his vehicle.

The victim went to Mercy Hospital to seek medical treatment. He was eventually flown to a regional trauma center for life-threatening stab wounds.

Detectives responded to assist with the investigation. Perez’s bicycle was located at an apartment complex behind Target. Perez was also located in the apartment complex and taken into custody without incident. Perez was booked into the Merced County Jail.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective Edwin Arias at 209-388-7826 or by email at ariase@cityofmerced.org