Seattle police arrested a 38-year-old man Saturday after a stabbing at a tent encampment in the city’s SODO neighborhood left a 54-year-old man with a deep leg wound. Seattle Fire crews took the injured man to a hospital, where authorities said the injury was serious but not considered life-threatening.
Suspect Picked Up After Returning to Scene Near Occidental and Hanford
Officers rushed to reports of a stabbing at a tent encampment near Occidental Avenue South and South Hanford Street and found the victim bleeding heavily from his leg. Police recovered a knife they believe was used in the attack. Investigators say the suspect walked off after the stabbing, only to return about three hours later. Officers arrested him without incident and booked him into the King County Jail on a first-degree assault charge, according to KING 5.
Homicide Detectives Leading the Case
Seattle’s Homicide and Assault Unit is now handling the investigation. That unit regularly takes on serious stabbing cases, as reflected on the Seattle Police Department blotter, and detectives typically ask anyone who saw what happened to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line.
SODO Safety Concerns Back in the Spotlight
The arrest lands amid a run of violent incidents in the industrial district and nearby encampments, fueling anxiety among workers and residents already on edge. Local reporting has previously spotlighted a March rideshare killing in SODO, a case that showed how quickly disputes in the area can turn deadly.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the stabbing to call the Seattle Police Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Prosecutors will determine whether to file formal charges, and the suspect remains booked at the King County Jail, according to the SPD blotter.
