SEATTLE — A 37-year-old man faced a judge for the first time on Saturday after allegedly stabbing five individuals in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District during daylight hours on Friday. The judge set his bail at a substantial $2 million.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion emphasized the need for safety in the area, stating, “People who live in and travel to the Chinatown-International District deserve to feel safe and be safe.” The judge found sufficient probable cause to hold the man on five charges of first-degree assault.
In addition to the severe bail, the judge highlighted that the suspect had an existing warrant for his arrest. He has a troubling criminal record with nine felony convictions in Washington, which include offenses such as car theft, robbery, possession of stolen property, and attempted burglary, as detailed in the probable cause report.
The investigation into the case is ongoing and has yet to be formally presented to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for potential charges. Spokesperson Casey McNerthney indicated they anticipate receiving the case by Thursday.
Four victims from the Friday stabbings were sent to Harborview Medical Center. One man, initially listed in critical condition, has since improved to serious, while two others remain under serious care in the Intensive Care Unit. A fourth male victim is reported to be in satisfactory condition.
Law enforcement discovered two bloodstained knives in the parking lot where the suspect was detained, with a third knife embedded in one victim’s back, according to court filings.
Seattle police suspect that the man may also be connected to at least four other stabbings that occurred in the same vicinity on Thursday. The attacks were random and the suspect matched the descriptions provided by witnesses. Authorities are continuing their investigation and may file additional charges.
The series of Thursday stabbings began with a 52-year-old woman found with multiple stab wounds. In later incidents that day, a 32-year-old man was discovered with several stab wounds, followed by a 37-year-old man who suffered multiple stabbings to his back in the evening.
On Friday at approximately 2 p.m., police responded to 911 calls reporting four stabbings in Chinatown. Another victim was located about a block away. Witnesses recounted seeing the suspect approach a man from behind and stab him, leaving him with four injuries. The witness further reported following the suspect as he calmly continued his spree, attacking three individuals gathered at the corner.
Video footage captured the suspect stabbing another man before he confronted the group. In this footage, the man was seen approaching and violently stabbing one victim in the back, rendering him incapacitated with the knife still embedded.
Authorities utilized the descriptions from witnesses to apprehend the suspect, who was noted to be wearing a black sweatshirt with the phrase “Fear of God State” emblazoned on the front. He appeared to have blood on his hands and shoes at the time of his arrest.
“This incident was apparently one individual over a 38-hour period of time committing random assaults,” noted Deputy Chief Eric Barden at the scene on Friday.