A group of suspected gang members, thought to be in their teens or early 20s, were seen chasing people in the area, yelling gang slurs, police said. The boy, who is not believed to be a gang member according to police, was reportedly hit over the head with a bottle and stabbed twice in his lower torso. The group of men ran away in the direction of Del Monte Avenue, witnesses told police.

The victim was flown by helicopter to Valley Medical Center. His wounds were not considered to be life-threatening.

There may have been eight to 12 men, all or most of them wearing red, said Morgan Hill police Special Operations Sgt. Jerry Neumayer.

Officers interviewed a number of people in the area of the 9 p.m. stabbing and conducted probation searches. About two hours after the stabbing, officers stopped a vehicle and learned that one of the passengers was on probation so they searched the vehicle. Neumayer said officers found a set of brass knuckles and a knife.

Sergio Romero, 19, of San Jose, and Oscar Rosas, 22, of San Jose, were booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of possession of an illegal weapon. Maria Campos, 21, of Morgan Hill, and a 17-year-old Morgan Hill female were detained and questioned but were later released. Campos is on probation, Neumayer said.

"The victim will be reinterviewed, we're still getting further leads," he said. "Our school resource offers are checking the schools, we're getting more information. I'm confident that we'll get some names."

Gang activity in Morgan Hill is on the rise, as it is in Gilroy and in Salinas, where there have recently been two homicides.

"I think we're going to have a busy summer," Neumayer said. "I think that is a very good indication. Gangs are run through the prison system, and I don't know what's going on in the prison system to affect these people out here on the streets."

Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers Morgan Hill education and public safety for South Valley Newspapers. Send her an e-mail.