UPDATE: SCPD Arrest 7 Youths in Wednesday Beach Flats Stabbing

After working 48 straight hours on the case, Santa Cruz Police Friday arrested seven youths, ages 14, 15, 17 and four 16-year-olds for brutally stabbing a Sacramento visitor who was walking near the Boadwalk with his girlfriend.

The man, whose condition was raised from critical to serious in a Santa Clara trauma center was attacked Wednesday afternoon at around 1 p.m.

Witnesses told Santa Cruz Police that the gang approached the couple and asked what gang he was affiliated with. He told them he wasn't in a gang and they began attacking him.

He ran away to the 200 block of 2nd Street, where they caught him and stabbed him many times.

Police have one used statements from witnesses and nearby video cameras to gather evidence against the suspects. They served search warrants and then arrested the juveniles, whose names are not released because of their ages.

Police said the youths thought the man was in a Norteno gang. They were all affiliated with a Sureno, or Southern gang called the "Killa Chicos."

All were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and gang activity and booked into Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall.

Police thanked the Santa Cruz Gang Task Force and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team for helping in the complicated process of tracking and arresting the suspects.

This is the second youth on youth attack with gang connections this week in Santa Cruz. In the other a 16-year-old walking near Mission Street Tuesday was attacked and robbed by three youths who were captured and arrested.

The attackers were caught near the restaurant called burger at Mission and Bay streets.