Seattle police are investigating an early-morning stabbing near a popular Capitol Hill restaurant that left a man seriously injured after a dispute over bench seating.
Officers responded to reports of an attack near Broadway East and East John Street around midnight. They found a 31-year-old man alert and conscious with a stab wound to the torso.
Seattle Fire Department paramedics provided medical treatment and transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition.
According to police, the altercation began when individuals argued about people sitting on a bench. During the dispute, the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim with a six-inch kitchen knife across from Dick’s Drive-In.
The suspect is described as a white male in his 50s with curly, shoulder-length hair. He was wearing a green and white sweater with dark trousers when he fled the scene before police arrived.
Authorities warn the suspect may still be armed and should be considered dangerous. The incident occurred in a busy nightlife area that typically sees heavy foot traffic during weekend hours.
The attack highlights ongoing safety concerns in Capitol Hill’s commercial district, where late-night establishments draw crowds that can sometimes lead to confrontational situations. Dick’s Drive-In serves as a popular late-night dining destination that attracts patrons from across the city.
Police have not indicated whether alcohol was involved in the altercation or whether the victim and suspect knew each other prior to the incident. The nature of the bench dispute that escalated to violence remains under investigation.
The six-inch kitchen knife suggests the suspect may have been carrying the weapon before the confrontation, raising questions about premeditation versus spontaneous violence during the argument.
Seattle police are asking anyone with information to call 911 or the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted as investigators work to identify and locate the suspect.
The stabbing adds to concerns about street-level violence in urban entertainment districts, where seemingly minor disputes can quickly escalate to serious criminal activity when weapons are involved.
