Seven people were left injured after a man went on a stabbing rampage in northeast Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
The unidentified suspect was walking in the Trinidad neighborhood, a few blocks away from Gallaudet University, an institution for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, around 3 p.m. when he launched the attack.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A Smith said he was in an “altered mental state from an unknown substance” as he allegedly began stabbing himself and a female acquaintance. The suspect then began stabbing others nearby, she said, adding two good Samaritans attempted to intervene but were also stabbed.
In total, four women and three men, including the suspect, were transported to area hospitals for treatment. All of the individuals are currently stable. The suspect was in surgery as Smith delivered her remarks at a briefing. He was taken into custody without incident shortly after police responded around 3.22 p.m. A knife was recovered a few feet away.
“I want to offer my thoughts to the victims, their families and those who witnessed today’s events,” the police chief said. While praising the good Samaritans, she asked the public to refrain from intervening in incidents such as these to avoid being harmed.
Earlier in the day, Smith and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser held a joint news conference announcing a 26 percent reduction in city crime rates year-to-date. Both women acknowledged that more work has to be done to make the city safer.
Speaking after the stabbing, Smith said: “This incident highlights the need for assistance of substance abuse issues in our communities.”
Several nearby roads remain closed after the incident.
