Multiple people stabbed in DC by man in 'altered mental state'

David Matthews, New York Daily News on Apr 3, 2025

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Multiple people were stabbed on Thursday by a man in an “altered mental state,” according to police in Washington, D.C.

The mass stabbing began at around 3:22 p.m. in the northeast part of the city, near the U.S. National Arboretum and Gallaudet University. Police said the suspect began stabbing himself and a female acquaintance as they were walking down the street, before he turned the weapon on others nearby.

Six victims, four women and two men, were wounded and transported to a hospital from the scene, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters at a news conference. The victims were said to be in stable condition on Thursday evening with non-life-threatening injuries.

Cops said the suspect was under the influence of an unknown substance when he carried out the attack. He was taken into custody and was undergoing surgery on Thursday.

A bloody knife was recovered “a few feet away” from the suspect when he was apprehended, according to police.

While neither the ages nor identities of anyone involved were released by police, Smith said three of the victims included a grandmother and two granddaughters who “were getting in a car, primarily minding their own business.”

Two of the victims were described as good Samaritans who tried to stop the stabbings, but ended up getting wounded themselves. The police chief cautioned others against intervening in such assaults.

“Even though we’re grateful for their intervention, we would ask that individuals who see incidents such as this to not intervene because these two individuals, although good Samaritans, were also stabbed as part of this assault,” Smith said. “This incident highlights the need for assistance of substance abuse issues in our communities.”

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