Locals and tourists strolling through downtown Napa may have noticed posters plastered on power poles, walls of businesses and other conspicuous sites alerting the public to a $5,000 reward fund.

The reward, sponsored by Napa Downtown Merchants Association, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Property-Based Improvement District and the Napa Bed-and-Breakfast Association, has been posted in an effort to drum up information leading to the arrest of the young man who stabbed a 71-year-old man in front of a Main Street restaurant on Oct. 28.

The Napa man was knifed four times in the chest and back. None of the stab wounds were life threatening. The victim was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center that night, treated and released.

The victim told the Register earlier he was standing on the sidewalk in front of Downtown Joe’s when he thought someone was pushing him. As he realized he had been stabbed, his assailant ran north on Main Street and has not been captured.

Napa police say they believe the attack was random. They do not have any suspects, according to Napa Police Detective Don Winegar, who is investigating the case.

“We are hoping more witnesses will come forward to help us identify the suspect. We are following all the leads we receive,” Winegar said.

Downtown Joe’s owner Joe Peatman Jr. said the incident signals a problem for the community, not just downtown merchants.

“I believe it may be gang-related, like someone doing a violent act to get initiated into a gang,” Peatman said. “I don’t see any other motive. I don’t think the stabbing was to do bodily harm, but to get attention.”

Winegar said so far there is nothing to tie the stabbing to gang activity.

“We can assume a lot of things, but right now, there is no evidence to lead us to believe the attack was gang related. The suspect may also be mentally disturbed. That is another assumption were are checking out,” he said. “We are working with the county mental health department.’

Napa Downtown Association Director Craig Smith said he does not believe the stabbing should make people afraid to visit downtown Napa.

“Napa is a safe city. We hope by offering this reward someone who knows something will come forward and help police catch the person,” he said.

Joe Salerno, Property Based Improvement District board member, said the reward is meant to send a message to businesses and Napa residents that “we are behind the downtown merchants.

“We do not want these things to happen in downtown Napa or anywhere else. We are doing all we can to help police crack this case,” Salerno said, “Napa is a very safe city for town of its size, and we have a very strong police force. We are hoping this reward will generate some information that will help police arrest whoever is responsible for the stabbing. Random acts of violence are hard to track down.”

Napa Bed and Breakfast Association member Deborah Coffee said, “It is important for the association to contribute.”

“Napa is my home. I walk my dog in that area where the stabbing happened. We want our residents and tourists who come here to feel safe,” said Coffee, who owns the Inn on Randolph. “I want to feel confident my guests are safe when I recommend they patronize the businesses downtown.”

While focus turns to the arrest, the victim, who asked not to identified in fear of retaliation, said he has fully recovered from the attack.

“I’m still going downtown. As a matter of fact I was down there on Tuesday for the Veterans Day affair,” he said. “I certainly hope no one boycotts downtown. It was a random attack. It very well could have been a mentally disturbed person. I sure don’t want this to scare anyone away from going downtown. The police are doing a really great job patrolling the downtown area.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Det. Winegar at 258-7879.