Injured Oregon player
leaves for home today

Star-Bulletin staff

An Oregon State University football player stabbed Sunday has recovered sufficiently from the 4-inch-deep knife wound in his back to fly home today.

Charles O'Neal said the blade touched his spine, but did not damage it. The 21-year-old defensive lineman said he'd be back at practice in two or three weeks and expects 100 percent recovery in a month.

He stood before cameras and reporters yesterday to thank Hawaii's people for their kindness. "This incident in no way affects the way I think of the people of Hawaii. The people of Hawaii are great ... and I've traveled all over the world."

O'Neal also personally thanked the security guard who stood between him and his assailants and held back teammate Paul Luoma from going after them. Fred Ford, a 29-year-old security guard for the International Marketplace and Duke's Lane, saw O'Neal and Luoma run across the street from the Jack In The Box restaurant on Kuhio Avenue.

"He told me, 'Look what they did,' and when he turned around, the knife was in his back," Ford said. He directed O'Neal and Luoma to take cover in a vendor booth at Duke's Lane, with the men in pursuit.

Ford said Luoma then realized his teammate had been stabbed and tried to go after the men, but Ford said he held him back and prevented the assailants from coming any farther.

O'Neal and Luoma had been at the Deja Vu Showgirls strip club early that Sunday morning after having played in the Oahu Bowl. Luoma, 26, suffered a minor cut.

O'Neal refused to comment on the incident because he said the matter is under investigation. Police continue to look for two male suspects, but have not made any arrests in the case.