Campaign consultant Ted Lehrer, who is currently working on two campaigns for candidates running for Stockton City Council, suffered a punctured lung after he was stabbed multiple times while waiting for a bus in downtown Stockton last Thursday.
In the days following the stabbing, city officials and two City Council campaigns had publicly discussed the attack without identifying the victim by name, describing him only as a local campaign consultant. Stockton police would only say the victim was a 54-year-old man.
However, Lehrer confirmed to Stocktonia Tuesday that he was the victim of the stabbing. Lehrer, who works as a consultant for the campaigns of Tamica Small and Desiree Lynch, said he suffered a punctured lung and injuries to his hand, fingers and shoulder after being stabbed by an assailant while he was waiting for a bus on South Commerce Street
Lehrer sought to separate the attack from his work as a political campaign consultant.
“I am the victim of a violent crime, period,” Lehrer said in a written statement to Stocktonia. “Any attempt to characterize this incident as anything other than a random, unprovoked attack is false.”
Police have not released a possible motive for the attack.
Stockton police spokesperson David Scott confirmed to Stocktonia the victim, later self identified as Lehrer, was sitting at a bus stop when a man approached him and accused him of being “nosey.” The man then pulled out a knife and stabbed Lehrer.
Lehrer said he has a significant vision impairment and does not own or operate a vehicle. He relies on public transportation, rideshare services and help from friends and acquaintances to get around.
After returning from the 7-Eleven on Center Street around 6:15 p.m, Lehrer said he was waiting for a scheduled San Joaquin Regional Transit District bus when he was attacked. Officers located and arrested Domenique Whitfield in connection with the stabbing a short time later, the police department said.
Emergency services were contacted immediately after the stabbing, said Lehrer. Police described Lehrer’s injuries as non-life-threatening and said he was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
“I want to commend the swift response and professionalism of the Stockton Police Department and the dedicated medical teams who provided my care,” Lehrer said. “I remain committed to assisting law enforcement in any way possible as they investigate this attack.”
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Christina Fugazi recognized Officers Ashlee Nicole Boyda and Daniel Saucedo, who helped coordinate police and medical emergency services’ response to the stabbing, for their “professionalism, courage and dedication to protecting the Stockton community.”
Boyda rode with Lehrer to the hospital while staying in contact with Saucedo still back at the scene, Fugazi said, as officers searched for the suspect. Officers said at the meeting that Whitfield was arrested about 15 to 20 minutes after the stabbing.
As of Tuesday afternoon, online San Joaquin County jail records show Whitfield was being held on $100,000 bail and is facing felony assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm. The records also show Whitfield has two previous felony conviction strikes.
If convicted of a felony in the stabbing of Lehrer, Whitfield could face a sentence of 25 years to life under California’s Three Strikes law.
Small, Lynch and Vice Mayor Jason Lee cited the attack in calling for greater attention to public safety in Stockton.
The stabbing occurred one day after an employee of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention, commonly known as a peacekeeper, was wounded in a drive-by shooting in south Stockton.
“While these are separate incidents, together they reflect the serious concerns residents have been raising for years about crime and safety in this area,” Lee said in a press release.
Police would not comment on whether the two incidents are connected.
City official, council candidates call for stronger public safety measures
In a joint statement Monday, Vice Mayor Lee and Stockton City Council candidates Small and Lynch, who employ Lehrer as a campaign consultant, called for stronger public safety measures, including support for police, violence prevention and mental health services.
Small, who is running against District 1 incumbent Michele Padilla, described herself as a former law enforcement officer. Public safety requires strong leadership, proactive policing and trust between officers and the communities they serve, she said in the press release.
“My heart is with our campaign consultant and his family as he recovers,” Small said. “No family should have to worry about whether their loved ones will make it home safely after volunteering, going to work, or simply waiting at a bus stop.”
Lynch, a nurse who is running against District 5 Councilmember Brando Villapudua, said in the press release public safety and public health should be addressed together through mental health care, addiction treatment and supportive services. But she also said that compassion and accountability must go together.
“We cannot continue allowing dangerous behavior to threaten the safety of our residents, businesses and neighborhoods,” Lynch said.
The stabbing occurred in District 5, which includes downtown Stockton, and is represented by Villapudua.
Both council candidates said they would support law enforcement, strengthen violence-prevention efforts, invest in mental health and addiction services and address homelessness with “compassion and accountability” if elected.
Lynch and Small speculated that the suspect was “transient.” However, police have not commented on the housing status of Whitfield.
In the same press release, Lee used the stabbing and the recent shooting of a city peacekeeper to criticize the city’s approach to public safety in District 5, which includes downtown and portions of south Stockton.
“This isn’t about politics — it’s about people,” Lee said. “Every Stockton resident deserves to feel safe waiting at a bus stop, walking to work, volunteering in their community or simply living their daily lives without fear of becoming the next victim of violent crime.”
Lee also said he has advocated for additional police substations throughout Stockton and accused Villapudua of voting against establishing one in Lee’s district. City records show Villapudua cast the sole opposing vote on a 2025 proposal for substations in Weston Ranch and Sierra Vista, both of which are in District 6.
The council later discussed other potential sites, including one in District 5, but took no formal action.
Villapudua did not immediately respond to Stocktonia’s request for comment. Lehrer said Villapudua had contacted him privately to wish him a swift recovery.
Lee also criticized the city’s approach to homelessness in District 5 and said residents want safer neighborhoods, greater accountability and measurable results from City Hall.
Lehrer urged city leaders and residents to work together toward solutions that improve public safety.
“I stand in solidarity with all victims of violent crime — particularly here in Stockton,” Lehrer said. “Our community can and must do better.”