DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A Danville man is recovering in the hospital after being stabbed Thursday night. Police have already arrested a suspect thanks to some help from the community.

Danville Police said it happened behind the Casey’s off Main and Illinois Streets. Deputy Chief Terry McCord gave credit to several groups of people for an arrest being made. He praised the quick response of the officers to the call, but he also said a ton of credit goes to everyday people who were willing to speak up and help.

When asked how valuable it is to get that information, especially right at the scene, McCord said, “Crucial, so crucial.”

McCord said once officers got to the Casey’s, they found a man stabbed in an alley behind the gas station.

“They had to actually airlift him out of there,” McCord said. “The Carle helicopter came over, airlifted him out, took him to the hospital.”

Others began to investigate the scene. McCord said witnesses gave a description of the suspect and pointed officers in the direction of where he ran. Danville Police later arrested 41-year-old Daniel Kist about nine blocks from the scene.

“Crimes that we deal with, and in turn that we solve, a lot of that credibility of solving it is not only the great job that the detectives and officers do, but the information we receive from our community,” McCord said.

Family of the victim confirmed that the man stabbed was Joshua Moore. His cousin, Michelle Beasley, talked about who he is.

“He was diagnosed schizophrenic, but that didn’t let him down.” Beasley said. “He always wanted to be independent, on his own. He was a great guy; he played with the kids; my kids, my twins loved him.”

Beasley said Moore is a gentle giant.

“He looks scary, but he’s the sweetest person around,” Beasley said. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

She said he’s bounced around living with different family members across the country before ending up in Danville. Beasley said he liked to hang out at that Casey’s, and she saw him there from time to time.

When she heard the news, she was panicked and confused.

“‘Who would do this? Why?’ was the thoughts going through my head,” Beasley said. “What was so bad in somebody’s life to take it out on somebody so nice and a good person, and a gentle person?”

Kist has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Police said they don’t know the motive behind the stabbing and haven’t found any connection between Kist and the victim. McCord said the investigation is ongoing.