By George P. Hassett

An early celebration of Independence Day ended in a stabbing Thursday night as two 18-year-old Somerville  men, one with a knife, walked to the Medford side of Broadway to fight.

David L. Martinez, of 551 Broadway, and the victim met on Alfred Street shortly after the fireworks display ended to “shoot the ones” or fistfight, according to witness statements in court documents.. But Martinez allegedly took out a knife and stabbed the victim in his head and back as the victim told him to “Put the knife down, fight like a man,” court records show.

During the altercation, Martinez, his father and the victim ended up struggling with each other on the ground. Martinez and his father also sustained cuts during the struggle and were treated for minor injuries, police said.

The 18-year-old victim suffered a collapsed lung from the stab wounds to his back. He was forced to wear an oxygen mask when detectives visited him in the hospital, according to court documents.

Medford police said they initially arrested two teens for the stabbing based on eyewitness accounts but further investigation exonerated the teens and an arrest warrant was obtained for Martinez.

Martinez walked into the Medford Police Department Friday night and turned himself in on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to murder. Witnesses told detectives that Martinez and the victim had an ongoing feud, but it is unclear what exactly caused the tension.

Thursday’s incident was not the first time violence followed a night of fireworks at Trum Field. In 2004, approximately one hour after the celebrations ended, a 16-year-old Somerville boy was stabbed to death at the corner of Warwick Street as he tried to break up a fight.

In 2007, as the fireworks display was beginning, two groups of teenage girls began to argue at the 7-11 parking lot on Broadway. They met up again minutes later and three of the girls punched and kicked the two victims until they were bruised and bleeding with dozens of abrasions, according to police.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, who revived the summer celebration when he took office, said the fireworks and the violent incidents were not related. He said the 2004 stabbing on Warwick Street was a random attack more than an hour after the fireworks ended.

‚ÄúThe cowardly acts of a few rogue individuals won’t deter this community from displaying our national pride,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúThe fireworks are a great event. They’re a family event. They’re a safe event. We will have it every year as long as I am mayor.‚Äù