photo by: Journal-World File Photo

Lawrence resident John Minoglio is pictured in this Journal-World file photo from 2016.

A fatal stabbing that occurred in the 1900 block of Massachusetts Street Sunday evening appeared to be the result of a fight between two men, a witness said.

Lawrence police on Monday morning identified John M. Minoglio, 40, of Lawrence, as the man who died shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday after being stabbed during an altercation with another man.

Robert Riley, a business owner in the area, told the Journal-World Monday that he and his business partner, Charlie Hiersche, saw the two men fighting in front of Hiersche’s home at 1920 Massachusetts St. and yelled at them to stop. He said both Minoglio and the other man appeared to be passersby who were “disturbed or intoxicated.”

Riley didn’t know what caused the fight or how it began but witnessed Minoglio punching the other man in the head. The two men continued to fight until Minoglio lay down in the grass and the other man walked away. Riley said he thought Minoglio was sitting down to collect himself after the fight.

“We thought it was a fist fight,” Riley said. “We just didn’t know (he was stabbed).”

A woman nearby then checked on Minoglio and realized he had been stabbed, Riley said. Hiersche, who is a firefighter, and Riley began providing care to Minoglio until police officers and medics arrived.

Upon arriving at the scene, the officers and medics located Minoglio in the grass and began treatment, but first responders were unable to revive him and he died at the scene, police previously said.

The man who was involved in the altercation that led to the stabbing was interviewed by police and released pending the completion of the investigation, police said Monday. Police did not identify that man.

The entire 1900 block of Massachusetts Street was closed in both directions for several hours Sunday night as authorities investigated the stabbing.

Police were not releasing any other information about the incident Monday morning.

photo by: Nick Gerik

Lawrence police vehicles block off Massachusetts Street south from 19th Street after a reported stabbing on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.