WALLA WALLA -- A 20-year-old Walla Walla man was stabbed early Wednesday after being confronted by two men who asked if he had any gang affiliations, police said.

Walla Walla police gang detectives are investigating the stabbing, which happened in the same neighborhood where the city's first gang-related homicide was last year, said Officer Tim Bennett.

The victim was in the area of Seventh Avenue and Myrtle Street when the confrontation occurred, leading to name calling and a fight between the three men.

At some point during the fight, the victim raised his arm to block the knife and was stabbed through his left hand, Bennett said.

He ran off and was later treated at the hospital.