A man accused of stabbing five people in Seattle in a recent string of attacks made his first court appearance where he was ordered held on $2 million bail. The judge noted that the man had a warrant out for his arrest and had nine felony convictions in Washington state. The case is still under investigation and has not been referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for a charging decision yet. Four of the five victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center on Friday, with one in critical condition being upgraded to serious. Police recovered multiple knives, including one lodged in a victim’s back, and believe the man was involved in previous stabbings in the same area on Thursday.
Seattle police suspect the man was also involved in at least four other stabbings in the area the day before the recent attacks. The Thursday stabbings started with a 52-year-old woman found with multiple stab wounds, followed by a 32-year-old man and a 37-year-old man also being stabbed. On Friday, four people were stabbed in Chinatown and another victim was found a block away. Witnesses described seeing the suspect calmly walk up to people and stab them, with video evidence showing the suspect stabbing multiple individuals. Police used witness descriptions to take the man into custody, noting he was wearing a black sweatshirt with the words “Fear of God State” across the chest.
The victims of the attacks were taken to the hospital, with some in serious condition in the ICU. The hospital spokesperson confirmed that multiple victims were being treated for stab wounds. Police recovered knives with blood on them from the scene of the arrest, indicating the man’s involvement in the attacks. The motive for the attacks remains unknown, and police are continuing to investigate the case. The suspect was apprehended by police and was found to have blood on his hands and shoes at the time of the arrest.
The King County Department of Public Defense has not yet provided a comment on the case, and further charges may be added as the investigation progresses. Deputy Chief Eric Barden described the incidents as one individual committing random assaults over a 38-hour period. The prosecutor’s office is expected to receive the case for a charging decision by Thursday. The community in the Chinatown-International District has been shaken by the recent attacks, and authorities are working to ensure the safety of residents and visitors in the area. Overall, the suspect’s criminal history and the violent nature of the attacks have raised concerns and prompted a swift response from law enforcement agencies.
