A 23-year-old DeKalb man has been arrested following a stabbing Tuesday night in the 800 block of West Taylor Street.

DeKalb police charged Joseph Ward, of 427 Normal Road, with three counts of aggravated battery after he allegedly stabbed three people following a confrontation.

DeKalb police responded to the alleged stabbing at 831 W. Taylor St. at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday after being contacted by the victims, who were not identified.

Police said upon arrival they found three victims inside the apartment of a friend. One had been stabbed in the thigh and two had been stabbed in the back.

Ward was visiting his girlfriend when he became involved in a verbal altercation with the three victims, DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said. He then allegedly stabbed them and left the scene in his vehicle.

Ward called his girlfriend after returning home, Kayes said. Police arrested him a short time later at his residence.

No charges are expected to be filed against the three victims, Kayes said, and none of the people involved are NIU students.

The victims were taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, 626 Bethany Road.

The hospital declined to release the victims’ names or conditions.

Kayes said police recovered a 4-inch block blade used in the stabbing.

“They’re lucky one or more of them didn’t die,” Kayes said.

Ward just missed one victim’s femoral artery and stabbed another in the back five times, Kayes said.

Ward is being held at the DeKalb County Jail.

Aggravated battery is a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison and a fine of $25,000.