Man Hacks Party Guest With Samurai Sword — Suspect Still Armed and On the Run

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A Northern California man is on the run after allegedly hacking a party guest with a samurai sword multiple times — and deputies still haven’t caught him.

Story Snapshot

Jonathan Mishael Bays, 41, is wanted for attempted murder after allegedly attacking a man with a samurai sword at a Mariposa County apartment complex.
The victim was struck in the head, shoulder, wrist, and hand, and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.
Bays fled on foot after the attack and remains at large; authorities warn he is armed and dangerous.
The incident reportedly occurred during a party where methamphetamine and other drugs were present.

Samurai Sword Attack Sends Victim to Hospital

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at the Creekside Apartments in Mariposa, California, on a Saturday after a violent altercation broke out during a party. Deputies arrived to find a victim who had been struck multiple times — in the head, shoulder, wrist, and hand — with what investigators described as a samurai sword. The severity of the injuries required the victim to be airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Authorities identified the suspect as 41-year-old Jonathan Mishael Bays and charged him with attempted murder. Initial investigations indicated the fight broke out at a gathering where methamphetamine and other drugs were reportedly being used. Witnesses told deputies they saw Bays walking away from the apartment complex on a trail after the attack, and he has not been located since.

Manhunt Underway as Suspect Remains at Large

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has publicly classified Bays as armed and dangerous, warning that he may still be in possession of the samurai sword used in the attack. Deputies have been actively searching the area, but as of the latest available reporting, Bays has not been apprehended. Residents in the Mariposa area have been urged to call 911 immediately if they spot him and not to approach him under any circumstances.

The case has drawn regional media attention from outlets including FOX26 and KMPH, as well as local television news stations across the Central Valley. The vivid details — a bladed weapon, a party setting, a fugitive on foot — have amplified public concern in a rural county where law enforcement resources can be stretched thin. The Mariposa area sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills, terrain that could complicate a prolonged manhunt.

Drugs, Violence, and a Community on Edge

The reported presence of methamphetamine at the party adds a layer of concern that goes beyond the immediate criminal case. Drug-fueled violence has become an all-too-common thread in communities across rural California, where the meth epidemic has never fully receded. When dangerous substances and weapons collide at a social gathering, the results can be catastrophic — as this case tragically illustrates.

41-year-old Jonathan Mishael Bays is wanted for attempted murder after a samurai sword was used during a fight in Mariposa County on Saturday.
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(Photo: Mariposa County Sheriff's Office) pic.twitter.com/l4vzo33FiG

— FOX26 News (@KMPHFOX26) May 26, 2026

For residents of Mariposa County, the situation is unsettling on two fronts: a man was nearly killed at a neighborhood apartment complex, and the person responsible is still out there, potentially armed. Law-abiding citizens in the area have every reason to stay vigilant. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jonathan Mishael Bays is urged to contact the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office or call 911 immediately.