A man is loaded into an air ambulance at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School after a stabbing at the Lawrence Salvation Army, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015.

One man was stabbed during a fight that broke out about 1 p.m. Friday between an employee and a visitor to the downtown Salvation Army office, 946 New Hampshire St.

The visitor, who is in his mid 20s, allegedly attacked the employee and “struck (him) numerous times,” Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said.

In response to the attack, the employee, who is in his mid 60s, pulled out a pocket knife in an attempt to defend himself, McKinley said. The visitor received several cuts and stab wounds from the knife, and stopped the attack before running from the building.

Police found the visitor in the downtown parking garage’s stairwell. Paramedics treated him and he was later taken to a Kansas City-area trauma center by air ambulance, which landed at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, 1400 Massachusetts St., McKinley said.