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Madison marked its sixth homicide of the year Wednesday night as 22-year-old Juan Bernal was stabbed outside the Plaza Tavern at 318 N. Henry St.

A suspect, Justin Stout, 31, of Madison, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is being held at the Dane County Jail. Neither the suspect nor victim are affiliated with the University of Wisconsin.

Joel DeSpain, public information officer for the Madison Police Department, said Stout also suffered some injuries in the altercation.

According to Madison Police Capt. Mary Schauf, the stabbing was a result of a dispute between two groups of men. Police were called to the scene at 11:38 p.m. after the men fled the scene.

Investigators do not know what the fight was over, but they know the victim and suspect were not “thrown” out of the bar after the initial dispute took place inside.

Schauf said several bar patrons chased down the men involved and were able to detain Travis Knapp, a popular downtown street painter, who provided police information leading them to Stout’s residence at 415 W. Gilman St.

“This is an absolutely, outrageously tragic incident, but also a very rare type of crime,” said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. “We do not typically have this type of crime in downtown Madison, especially at the Plaza.”

The homicides of UW-Whitewater student Kelly Nolan, who disappeared after a night of bar-hopping in downtown Madison last summer, and UW junior Brittany Zimmermann, who was killed in her apartment on West Doty Street last April, have shocked the downtown area.

Verveer said he spoke with the manager on duty at the Tavern last night, and she said she administered aid to the victim by applying pressure to his wounds while another staff member called 911.

Plaza staff emptied the bar immediately after the altercation occurred and closed early for the night, Verveer said.

“Everyone is shocked that something like that has happened at a friendly, safe place like the Plaza Tavern,” said Dean Hetue, the Plaza’s owner.

According to a source close to the investigation, a dispute between Stout and Bernal took place inside the bar after Bernal interrupted the jukebox playlist Stout had paid to play.

DeSpain said no fighting took place in the bar, and it does not appear the two men knew each other.

Online Wisconsin court records show Bernal had a history of bar fighting, including an incident on Stoughton Road in December 2005 where he pled guilty to two counts of misdemeanor and disorderly conduct.

Stout was arrested Aug. 8 in Ashland County by the Department of Natural Resources for drunken driving, operating without a valid driver’s license, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

DeSpain said multiple individuals were involved, but no others have been detained.