A Milton townhome became the scene of a grisly homicide on Monday, where a 40-year-old woman was fatally stabbed. According to The News Tribune, the Milton Police Department reported receiving a 911 call indicating a stabbing was in progress, and upon arrival at the 24th Avenue Court Townhomes, they found the suspect, a woman in her 30s, leaving the residence.
The suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Mi Lanique Jenkins, was suspected for the murder, and the incident appeared to involve individuals familiar with each other. The victim, breathing heavily with significant stab wounds, was beyond the help of the Milton, Edgewood, and Fife officers who attempted life-saving measures before medics declared her dead at the scene, as detailed by KOMO News.
In a statement obtained by KING 5, the fatal sequence saw Jenkins allegedly take up a knife from a drawer and charge the victim. A horrified witness, stated they "saw Jenkins charge the victim with what looked like a knife," which prompted a frantic escape to seek help from neighbors. The witness said they "heard the victim screaming for help" during the assault—fleeing the house afterwards, supposedly in fear for her life.
Further details about the day's violent unfolding came from the homeowner who contacted authorities after witnessing part of the attack. The 911 caller relayed seeing blood on the suspect, Jenkins, who upon arrival, was detained by police and refused to speak, according to a statement of probable cause published by KING 5. Jenkins, formerly a roommate at the residence, had arrived earlier that day, demanding entry and the incident escalated quickly following Jenkins' admittance to the townhome.
The investigation into the stabbing homicide remains active, with the Metro Cities Crime Response Unit aiding the Milton Police Department in processing the scene and discovering the motives behind the attack. Jenkins was booked into the Pierce County jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, but these charges were updated to first-degree murder in light of the presented evidence. As this story develops, more insights are expected to surface about the connections between the individuals involved and the events leading up to the stabbing.
