There was a stabbing in front of a Near South home late Tuesday.

Carrie Schubert had just gotten home from work about 11:30 p.m. and watched from the front window of her home near 21st and C streets.

Police say a kid walked up with a utility knife and stabbed the victim, in red Santa pants and hat.

A snowman and Santa stood helplessly beside him, tethered to the snowy ground near the front porch.

And the victim stood there, a smile frozen on his face despite the 2-inch gash on his cheek.

“There was a brutal stabbing last night,” Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady told reporters the next day.

Victim’s last name: Bob.

First name: Sponge.

Yes, he wears square pants.

And he’s yellow.

Police had no word on the condition of the air-filled Christmas decoration, but they estimated damage caused by the stab wound at $20.

At the house just after lunch on Wednesday, Schubert said the kid probably thought he was going to pop SpongeBob SquarePants. He didn’t.

The air just kept pushing him up, and the kid took off running.

“It ruined his plans,” said her neighbor, 17-year-old Tyler Blacketer.

Schubert half expected it to happen after her 13-year-old daughter picked out SpongeBob at Walgreens after Thanksgiving.

At Blacketer’s urging, she called police — at the nonemergency number — and reported it.

In 10 minutes or so, Schubert said, police arrived at the scene of the crime.

She told police what she saw.

They ticketed alleged assailant Robert Rodriguez, 18, on suspicion of vandalism.

As for SpongeBob, Schubert patched him up with Scotch tape.

He’s still smiling.

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.