1 dead, 1 hurt in gruesome South Park stabbings
SEATTLE - A South Park neighborhood is in shock after a gruesome double stabbing before dawn Sunday that left one woman dead and another critically injured, police said.
Officers say the women were attacked in their home by a stranger who sneaked in while they were asleep, then stabbed them repeatedly before fleeing.
Now police are extremely concerned that the violent attacker could strike again, and they're alerting residents of the area to take precautions.
Investigators say the unknown suspect entered the home, in the 700 block of South Rose Street, either through an unlocked door or window, or by breaking in.
The two women, who had recently moved to the neighborhood, were brutally attacked - stabbed repeatedly in the neck and arms. Police will not say whether they were sexually assaulted.
One of the women, age 37, was fatally wounded during the attack. The second victim, age 40, was stabbed multiple times and remains in critical condition.
Officers responded to the scene after neighbors heard screams and called 911 just before 3 a.m.
Both of the women managed to escape from the house during or after the attack. The suspect fled on foot and is still at large, said Seattle Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz.
The 37-year-old victim collapsed in the street and was dead when officers arrived.
One neighbor, Albert Barrientes, said he heard somebody screaming and yelling, "Help, help, help."
When he ran outside, he saw both women bloodied from stab wounds - and in shock. He said the woman who later died was completely covered in blood.
"She was laying on the ground, covered in blood, all the way from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet," he said. "And she was naked, completely, all the way down."
The other victim made it across the street to a neighbor's home to seek help. She was able to talk briefly with the first officers who arrived on scene, then was rushed to an area hospital with very critical injuries.
The attacker was described as a black male in his late 20s to 30s with a slight mustache, muscular build and an Afro or natural style hair, weighing about 160 pounds and standing about 5-feet-10-inches.
Metz said investigators firmly believe the women did not know their attacker, and now police are worried that they may be dealing with a serial predator who could strike again - perhaps in the same area.
Officers are handing out flyers in the neighborhood and have scheduled an emergency neighborhood meeting for 7 p.m. Monday at the South Park Community Center, Metz said.
Detective are continuing to gather evidence in the neighborhood and in the modest one-story home where the attack happened.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
"We are working with the community here in trying to develop some leads," said Seattle Police Department spokeswoman Renee Witt.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle police police homicide unit at (206) 684-5550 or the King County Crime Stoppers at (206) 343-2020, or send a text to "crimes" (274637).
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available ....
Officers say the women were attacked in their home by a stranger who sneaked in while they were asleep, then stabbed them repeatedly before fleeing.
Now police are extremely concerned that the violent attacker could strike again, and they're alerting residents of the area to take precautions.
Investigators say the unknown suspect entered the home, in the 700 block of South Rose Street, either through an unlocked door or window, or by breaking in.
The two women, who had recently moved to the neighborhood, were brutally attacked - stabbed repeatedly in the neck and arms. Police will not say whether they were sexually assaulted.
One of the women, age 37, was fatally wounded during the attack. The second victim, age 40, was stabbed multiple times and remains in critical condition.
Officers responded to the scene after neighbors heard screams and called 911 just before 3 a.m.
Both of the women managed to escape from the house during or after the attack. The suspect fled on foot and is still at large, said Seattle Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz.
The 37-year-old victim collapsed in the street and was dead when officers arrived.
One neighbor, Albert Barrientes, said he heard somebody screaming and yelling, "Help, help, help."
When he ran outside, he saw both women bloodied from stab wounds - and in shock. He said the woman who later died was completely covered in blood.
"She was laying on the ground, covered in blood, all the way from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet," he said. "And she was naked, completely, all the way down."
The other victim made it across the street to a neighbor's home to seek help. She was able to talk briefly with the first officers who arrived on scene, then was rushed to an area hospital with very critical injuries.
The attacker was described as a black male in his late 20s to 30s with a slight mustache, muscular build and an Afro or natural style hair, weighing about 160 pounds and standing about 5-feet-10-inches.
Metz said investigators firmly believe the women did not know their attacker, and now police are worried that they may be dealing with a serial predator who could strike again - perhaps in the same area.
Officers are handing out flyers in the neighborhood and have scheduled an emergency neighborhood meeting for 7 p.m. Monday at the South Park Community Center, Metz said.
Detective are continuing to gather evidence in the neighborhood and in the modest one-story home where the attack happened.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
"We are working with the community here in trying to develop some leads," said Seattle Police Department spokeswoman Renee Witt.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle police police homicide unit at (206) 684-5550 or the King County Crime Stoppers at (206) 343-2020, or send a text to "crimes" (274637).
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available ....