An Eau Claire man accused of stabbing a Chippewa Falls man near Water Street Sunday faces charges of attempted first-degree reckless homicide, according to an Eau Claire Police media release.

According to police, officers followed a trail of blood from the 800 block of Water Street and found Jarod T. Sabaska, 20, between two houses covered in blood after responding to a report of a fight just after midnight Sunday.

Officers then found Andrew R. Lawrence, a 22-year-old pizza delivery driver, at Tenth and Lakeside avenues with a bloody face and hands and an injured left eye.

The report states Lawrence saw “a group of individuals throwing snow or ice at his truck,” which was parked in the 800 block of Water Street. Eau Claire police released Monday that Lawrence was delivering pizza at this time.

He proceeded to approach the group with a knife in his hand.

During “a minor physical altercation,” Lawrence stabbed Sabaska multiple times. Lawrence said he was punched in the face during this altercation and started swinging the knife in response, according to police. He told officers that the knife was used in self-defense.

Sabaska sustained multiple stab wounds, including a severed artery, which required surgery at Mayo Health Clinic System in Eau Claire.

Both Lawrence and Sabaska were taken to a local hospital. Lawrence was then transferred for holding at the Eau Claire County Jail.

Eau Claire Police Chief Jerry Staniszewski said, in a media release, random violence in Eau Claire is preventable.

“As a society, we need to do a better job of equipping our youth with the tools necessary to enable them to deal with personal conflicts without resorting to violence,” he said.

Judge William Gabler set a $10,000 cash bail for Lawrence’s release during a bond hearing Monday, the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reported. He will return to Eau Claire County Court Friday to face formal charges.