A quiet late-night grocery run in Beacon Hill turned violent just after 11 p.m. Friday when a 37-year-old woman was stabbed outside the QFC on Rainier Avenue S in south Seattle. She suffered a single stab wound near her left shoulder that officers described as non-life-threatening and was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she is in stable condition. The suspect took off on foot and had not been arrested by early Saturday morning.
According to KING 5, an unknown man first approached the woman inside the store before later slashing her once after she walked outside. Witnesses told reporters he used a "butterfly-style" folding knife in the attack. Officers canvassed the area and urged anyone with video or information to get in touch with investigators.
City Leaders See Another Red Flag On Violence
The stabbing lands in the middle of a rough month for Seattle, with a series of violent incidents already under investigation, including a fatal stabbing at University of Washington housing earlier in May. On May 12, Mayor Katie Wilson issued a statement addressing the weekend violence and said her team is working with police and campus officials to support affected communities, according to the Office of the Mayor. Detectives remain busy with several stabbing and shooting cases this month, as reflected in recent updates on the SPD Blotter.
What Police Are Saying
Seattle Fire Department crews and police officers responded to the QFC and treated the victim before transporting her to Harborview Medical Center, where she remained in stable condition, as reported by KING 5. Investigators say the suspect left the scene on foot and have not released a detailed description.
Past Trouble At The Same Store
This is not the first time violence has hit this particular QFC. In 2019, an employee at the same Rainier Avenue location was stabbed with scissors and injured before an arrest was made, according to KIRO 7. That earlier incident also ended with a trip to Harborview, highlighting ongoing safety concerns along the Rainier Avenue corridor.
Anyone who has information or video related to the latest stabbing is asked to call Seattle police's Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000, according to the SPD Blotter. Investigators say the case remains open and active.
