SANFORD — Police here are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to an apparent stabbing Wednesday evening that injured a 22-year-old man.

Austin Murphy was upgraded to satisfactory condition Thursday afternoon from an earlier, fair condition report, said a spokeswoman at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Murphy was airlifted to the Portland hospital Wednesday evening with a stab wound to the chest.

Sanford Police Detective Eric Small said he spoke with Murphy at the hospital on Thursday morning. He said Murphy was conscious and alert and he gave police a statement.

No charges have been filed in connection with the incident, and the investigation is continuing.

“We’ll gather the facts and go over them with the district attorney,” said Small.

Police were dispatched to the area at about 5:05 p.m. Wednesday for a report of an assault in progress and that someone had been stabbed.

“The injury to Mr. Murphy can be considered serious,” said Sgt. Craig Andersen in a statement released that night. “The involved parties of the incident have been identified and the investigation to determine the circumstances which led to the injury continues.”

Angie Lestage said she was walking home to her apartment, located in the same building where Murphy, her nephew, lives, when she learned he had been injured. She said her 16-year-old son told her that Murphy was walking down the street when a man came up, stabbed him and then threw the knife in the street.

Murphy was taken from the scene by ambulance to the Sanford campus of Southern Maine Health Care where he was stabilized and then taken by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center.

According to Maine Medical Center, for an individual reported to be in satisfactory condition vital signs are stable and within normal limits and the patient is conscious and is considered comfortable.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].