3 People Stabbed Outside Miami Club

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Three people were stabbed outside a South Beach nightclub early Tuesday, and two were critically wounded.

The stabbing took place at about 3:45 a.m. outside Club Level, a police spokesman said. Police in riot gear were outside the club following the incident.

One person was slashed in the arm and another was repeatedly stabbed in the back and arm, the spokesman said. Both were in critical condition at Miami hospitals.

A third victim had less serious injuries and was taken to a hospital in Miami Beach, the spokesman said. No other information was immediately available on the victims.

The stabbings Tuesday happened after two groups of people passed each other on the street and exchanged words, according to television reports.

Club Level was the ``host club'' of Monday night's Source Hip-Hop Music Awards. It was unknown if the stabbings were connected to the awards. The awards show itself was held at the Jackie Gleason Theater.

The taping of last year's Source awards, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California, was cut short by a bottle-throwing brawl.

Extra police had been assigned to the area and no other problems had been linked to the 2001 awards show.

Only "assault knives" should be banned.

Legalize murder.