The victim of a fatal stabbing at a Cumberland County sports bar early Wednesday has been identified as a Lillington man, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Derek James Frerichs, 37, was pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center following the stabbing reported at 12:11 a.m. Wednesday at Pyrates Sports Bar, 651 W. Manchester Road, off Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake.
According to a 911 call from a woman who sounded as if she worked at the bar, Frerichs was fighting with another man when he was stabbed.
"They were just over here on the bar and next thing you know; I turn around, the fight is breaking out and someone brought out a knife and stabbed someone," the woman said.
A patron who called 911 said he saw the altercation take place.
"There was only two involved but (there were) a couple people trying to break it up," the caller said. "The guy with the weapon is walking out the front door."
Both callers described the victim's wound to be near the chest or abdomen.
During the worker's 911 call, she paused briefly before yelling.
"Get the (expletive) out of this (expletive) bar... Put that gun away!"
Returning to the phone call, she apologized.
"I’m sorry. He brought a (expletive) gun in," she said, telling the dispatcher the man with the gun was the one who had stabbed Frerichs.
Multiple patrons can be heard in the background of the calls attempting to make Frerichs comfortable, and telling him to stay still as they wait for help to arrive. A woman can be heard saying she was applying pressure to his wound.
"He’s on the floor. Got him calm but he needs attention pretty soon," a man said in one of the calls.
The Sheriff's Office said the "offender" was cooperating with police. As of Friday, it appeared no arrest had been made in the case.
A GoFundMe set up to raise money for Frerichs' funeral, suggests he was employed at the bar.
"Derek was tragically taken from us while he was working." the fundraising page reads. As of Friday afternoon, the account had raised more than $7,800.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 910-321-6592. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Fayetteville/Cumberland County CrimeStoppers by calling 910-483-TIPS (8477); visiting fay-nccrimestoppers.org online; or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for mobile devices.
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.
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