Myrtle Beach police investigate man's stomach stabbing

Myrtle Beach police are investigating after a man was stabbed in his stomach outside his 21st Avenue South home.

Police were called to an apartment complex in the 300 block of 21st Avenue South about 11:30 p.m. Monday where the victim, whose shirt was covered in blood, flagged down officers.

The man told police that he was stabbed by a stranger in front of the building after he walked home from work.

He was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach for treatment.

After investigating, officers found a trail of blood in the apartment from the front door to the couch.

Officers followed the trail out the front door to another apartment in the building, according to a police report.

Officers knocked on the door and found a 49-year-old neighbor with blood on his hands, face and clothes. Officers said the man also had injuries to his face including a swollen eye, a cut on his nose, and a severely split lower lip. He also was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Officers interviewed the victim's girlfriend and her son and several other neighbors. Two different neighbors interviewed about 1:30 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Tuesday told police that there had been a loud argument several days earlier because the victim had learned that his girlfriend was cheating on him with the neighbor, the man found with injuries.

According to police reports, the girlfriend said it was odd for the victim to come home so early and her son said he had overheard bits of the couple arguing, but did not know the details.

The victim had asked his girlfriend to drive him to the hospital instead of calling 911, she told police, but she couldn't find her keys and eventually he said he was in too much pain to wait any longer.

The incident was being treated as an assault with the intent to kill, according to police, but as of Tuesday afternoon, charges had not been filed against anyone.