Seattle police have arrested a suspect linked to a series of stabbings in the city’s Chinatown-International District, which left multiple victims hospitalized.
The violence began on Thursday when officers responded to the stabbing of a 52-year-old woman, who was found with multiple stab wounds. She received emergency treatment from Seattle Fire Department personnel before being transported to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) in serious condition. Later, police were called to another stabbing involving a 32-year-old victim, who was also transported to HMC with severe injuries. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a checkered hoody.
On Thursday evening, a third stabbing was reported, involving a 37-year-old man who suffered multiple wounds and was taken to the same hospital. At that time, police detained a 34-year-old suspect near an abandoned building. The suspect, who had a felony warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle, was armed with a knife at the time of his arrest.
Approximately 30 minutes later, another incident occurred beneath a freeway overpass. A 60-year-old victim reported that the suspect approached his vehicle on foot, opened the driver’s door, and attempted to stab him. The victim managed to block the attack but suffered a laceration to his hand.
On Friday, police responded to a report of another assault and found a 53-year-old man with a neck injury. By Friday afternoon, officers responded once again to reports of five people stabbed at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. Four of the victims were transported to HMC with serious injuries. By this time, the police were able to take the suspect into custody without further incident.
Law enforcement is working to identify the suspect, who is reportedly between the ages of 30 and 40, and is investigating whether the incidents are all related, according to the Seattle Police Department.“The stabbings in Little Saigon and the Chinatown-International District are horrific, appalling, and shouldn’t occur anywhere in our city,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. "I am grateful for the efforts of first responders in arresting a suspect and caring for the victims of these attacks. I hope for their speedy recovery."
