Central CA prosecutor stabbed in retaliatory attack while filming campaign ad, authorities say

FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp is releasing new information on what she says was an act of retaliation by the suspect in the stabbing of a deputy district attorney at Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno.

During an interview with KMJ, our news partner, Smittcamp said the suspect was sentenced in the past for a case handled by this prosecutor.

Smittcamp said the suspect approached a group on Thursday afternoon that was shooting a campaign commercial for Ashley Paulson and said he knew who they were.

She added that the suspect then singled out the prosecutor and stabbed him three times in the back.

RELATED: Courthouse Park stabbing victim identified as Fresno County senior deputy district attorney

The attorney was rushed to the hospital for treatment, and Smittcamp said he's since been released.

Crawford has a criminal history, and Smittcamp believes this incident is a result of California's criminal justice reform failures.

She is calling for an end to the state's "Hug a Thug" policies.

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office is handling the stabbing case.

Crawford is in the Fresno County Jail with a $1 million bail.