Nov 19, 2009 - 04:03 PM

By Jeff Mitchell

AJAX -- One man is dead and another was seriously injured in a stabbing incident Wednesday night in Ajax.

Durham police responded to two scenes in the wake of the violent incident, which started in a parking lot near a Keg restaurant at Kingston and Salem roads just before 11 p.m. One of the stabbing victims managed to leave the scene but was found collapsed more than a kilometre away, police said. He died later at hospital. The other victim, 24, remained at the scene of the stabbing.

The dead man has been identified as Victor Cameron, 32, of Fletcher Avenue in Ajax. The second man, who wasn't identified, is expected to recover.

Durham homicide detectives are working to piece together events leading to the violent outburst.

"We're still trying to get a handle on it," Detective Dave Henderson said early Thursday.

While there was early speculation the injured men were fighting each other, cops are working on an alternative theory.

"That was the original thought but my sense now is that's not the case," Det. Henderson said.

"At this stage we're looking at a scenario involving an unidentified attacker."

Thursday morning Durham police, including forensic investigators, had cordoned off the parking lot. A trail of evidence markers was visible and police had erected a canopy in the vicinity of several parked vehicles including a red Dodge Charger, a black Cadillac STS and a dark Ford SUV.

Police responded to a call of a disturbance at about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday and arrived at the plaza to find a wounded man lying on the pavement, Sergeant Nancy van Rooy said. Several witnesses were present and some were administering first aid.

The victim was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a trauma unit in Toronto.

Witnesses told police a second victim had fled the scene in a vehicle.

Almost an hour later, police were called to the intersection of Harwood Avenue and Kerrison Drive, where they found a gravely injured Mr. Cameron lying outside a vehicle.

Sgt. van Rooy wasn't sure who made the second 911 call.

"When Durham police arrived at the scene, (paramedics were) already at the scene," she said.

Mr. Cameron was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.