METHUEN — Two Lawrence men were charged with attempted murder, and police searched for a third suspect after a stabbing outside a Cypress Avenue home early yesterday.
The victim, found lying in the street bleeding heavily from several wounds, remained in serious condition last night at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
He was flown to the hospital by medical helicopter after the 4 a.m. attack, police said.
The victim was not identified by police last night.
Meanwhile, Luis Miranda, 20, and Jose Velez, 26, were both held on $100,000 cash bail after they were charged with assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and attempted murder, police Lt. Greg Gallant said.
The motive for the stabbing was unclear last night. The incident is being investigated by Methuen detectives and state police.
Gallant said police are searching for a third suspect.
The victim, who gathered with friends at a Cypress Avenue home, had stepped outside to have a cigarette, according to a report filed by Officers Mark Aiello and Richard Cesarz.
But seconds later, his friends looked out and saw him being beaten by three young men armed with a "stick and a glass bottle," the police report said.
The three suspects fled Cypress Avenue, off Lowell Street near the Lawrence city line, in a red Pontiac sports car. Lawrence police were immediately alerted and later pulled over the car near Manchester Street.
Miranda and Velez were identified by a witness as two of the three people who beat the victim on Cypress Avenue, according to Lawrence police Officer Michael Colantuoni.
The Pontiac was towed to the Methuen police station.
Miranda, of 143 Bailey St., and Velez, of 17 Tyler St., are scheduled for arraignment this morning in Lawrence District Court.
