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Victim's friend: Fatal stabbing was unprovoked Pedro Sabalsa-Mendez is arraigned by video Monday from the Jackson County Jail on one count of murder for the stabbing death of Avi Feldman of Ashland. Mail Tribune / Denise Baratta Monday Nov 7, 2016 at 4:01 PM Nov 7, 2016 at 5:37 PM Mark Freeman Mail Tribune @MTwriterFreeman A transient accused of fatally stabbing a 20-year-old Medford man early Sunday at an Ashland house party was a "crazy" man who attacked his victim out of nowhere and repeatedly yelled "suicide" before waiting for police to arrive, a party attendee says. Ari Peart, who said victim Avi Feldman of Ashland was his best friend, said suspect Pablo Sabalsa-Mendez had scratches on his face and was at the party introducing himself as "Marshal Law" before allegedly stabbing Feldman several times in the back in a driveway of the 200 block of Strawberry Lane. "The guy jumped out of the f------ dark," Peart said Monday. "The guy totally jumped out and stabbed him with no provocation. "He was yelling 'suicide,' " Peart said. Peart said he was inside the house and did not witness the attack, but he said he held Feldman while he died as Sabalsa-Mendez stood nearby. "His last words to all of us were, 'I love you guys,' " Peart said. Ashland police arrested Sabalsa-Mendez, 22, who described himself as a transient, near the scene of the 1 a.m. stabbing on a murder charge without incident. A large knife was recovered at the scene, police said Sunday. Peart said about 30 current and former Ashland High School students were at the party, where alcohol and marijuana were present. Peart said Feldman smoked marijuana and had an Oregon Medical Marijuana Program card but he did not appear impaired at the party. Ashland police Deputy Chief Warren Hensman said Monday the attack occurred outside of the party, and he declined to comment on any potential motives for the homicide or whether drugs or alcohol were suspected of playing a role in the attack. Sabalsa-Mendez was arraigned Monday afternoon in Jackson County Circuit Court on a single count of murder, which carries a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence upon conviction under Oregon sentencing laws. During his arraignment via teleconferencing from the Jackson County Jail, a somber Sabalsa-Mendez was asked by Judge Lorenzo Mejia whether he wanted a court-appointed attorney or planned to hire one. "I'm not sure," Sabalsa-Mendez said. "It's my first time." Mejia appointed a public defender and returned Sabalsa-Mendez to jail without bail. Sabalsa-Mendez was due back in court Monday for a conference. Court records show Sabalsa-Mendez has no criminal record in Oregon. Peart described Feldman as a 2013 Ashland High School graduate who was a very sensitive person who loved free-style rapping and hip-hop dancing. He recently rented an apartment in Ashland, Peart said. Peart said Feldman knew Sabalsa-Mendez and invited him to the party after running into him on the street.  "The guy was crazy," Peart said. — Reach Mail Tribune reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman.