BELLINGHAM - A 72-year-old man suffered a knife wound to the belly during a fight over drugs and money outside the Lighthouse Mission early Tuesday, June 12, police said.

The fight between two men broke out about 6:15 a.m. near the mission, 910 W. Holly St.

They had eaten breakfast separately at the mission and were leaving when the fight started just up the hill on F Street, in front of several witnesses.

The men had a dispute about some money and prescription drugs that had been lost, said Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young.

One of the men - it's unclear who - pulled out a knife with a fixed blade, and in the fray it sliced the 72-year-old man's abdomen, Young said.

The wounded man's injuries required major surgery, but his life was not in danger.

Police are looking for the other man involved, to get his side of the story.

"I'm sure he knows we're looking for him, too," Young said.

Both men are transient. Neither man was staying at the Lighthouse Mission at the time.

They had been seen walking together in the past, said Ron Buchinski, executive director of the mission.

"It's obvious they had a falling out," Buchinski said.

Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.