The Mount Vernon Police Department responded to a stabbing incident at the Skagit River Bridge on Riverside Drive around 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a 43-year-old man with multiple stab wounds and initiated life-saving measures, police officials said.
The man who was suffering from stab wounds was transported to the hospital but later died from his injuries, according to police.
Officers were alerted to a possible suspect while on the way to the stabbing scene and safely took the individual into custody.
Police have not shared any details about the person they took into custody, but said the investigation is ongoing.
The Skagit River Bridge location on Riverside Drive places the fatal stabbing in a public area frequented by pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge connecting Mount Vernon’s downtown to residential neighborhoods on the opposite riverbank.
The 43-year-old victim’s multiple stab wounds indicate a sustained attack rather than a single defensive strike, suggesting either a prolonged confrontation or an assailant who continued stabbing after the victim was incapacitated.
Officers’ immediate life-saving measures upon arrival demonstrate first responder training in trauma care, though the victim’s subsequent hospital death indicates injuries too severe for field stabilization to prevent fatal outcome.
The suspect alert arriving while officers were en route to the scene suggests either witnesses provided real-time description and location information or surveillance systems identified a fleeing individual matching suspect characteristics.
The safe custody taking without incident indicates the suspect either surrendered voluntarily or was apprehended without resistance, avoiding the violent confrontations that sometimes occur when murder suspects face arrest.
Mount Vernon Police’s silence on suspect details including name, age, gender, and relationship to victim follows standard practice during early investigation stages, though the lack of public safety warnings suggests authorities do not believe additional suspects remain at large.
The 10:30 a.m. Sunday timing places the stabbing during mid-morning hours when bridge foot traffic might be moderate with weekend recreationalists, dog walkers, or individuals commuting to late-morning activities.
The ongoing investigation status indicates detectives are gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and establishing motive before presenting charges to the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office for potential murder or manslaughter filing.
The hospital transport rather than death at scene gave medical personnel opportunity to attempt surgical intervention, though the victim’s death suggests catastrophic blood loss, organ damage, or other injuries incompatible with survival despite aggressive treatment.
Mount Vernon’s location as Skagit County’s largest city means this homicide will likely draw significant regional media attention and community concern in an area where fatal stabbings are relatively uncommon compared to larger urban areas.
