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A New Year’s Eve celebration turned violent for a local man at his home.

Juan Vazquez Hernandez, 606 Scriven Ave., Live Oak, was stabbed by a man at his home Tuesday around 2:30 a.m., according to police reports.

The suspect, identified only as Juan, had been engaged in a verbal confrontation with Hernandez and the situation escalated to violence after Juan produced a knife and stabbed Hernandez, say police.

Juan fled the scene following the attack.

Hernandez, 28, was transported to Shands Live Oak by ambulance. He was later taken by helicopter to Shands at UF.

Hernandez was stabbed once. The wound was 12 inches in length “across the abdomen from one side to the other,” said LOPD Det. Sgt. Ron Shaw. Hernandez suffered no damage to vital organs, though he remains hospitalized, said Shaw.

LOPD Chief Buddy Williams said the incident is still under investigation and the suspect remains at large.

LOPD Sgt. Larry Rogers responded to the call. LOPD officers, Suwannee County sheriff’s deputies and K-9 tracking teams from Hamilton Correctional Institution searched the area around the residence in an effort to locate the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call LOPD at 386-362-7463 or Crime Stoppers at 386-208-8477.