A woman was hospitalized in serious condition after being stabbed Thursday evening in Seattle’s Central District, with police continuing to search for the suspect who fled the scene.
Seattle police responded just before 7 p.m. to reports of a stabbing in the 1800 block of South Jackson Street. Officers found a woman inside an apartment suffering from stab wounds.
Seattle police and Seattle Fire Department medics provided emergency medical treatment before the victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where she was listed in serious condition.
Police said the 21-year-old suspect fled the scene on foot before officers arrived. SPD officers, along with a King County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team, conducted a search of the surrounding area but were unable to locate the woman.
The circumstances leading up to the stabbing remain under investigation as detectives work to determine what prompted the violence.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
The Central District location places the stabbing in a residential neighborhood where apartment complexes mix with single-family homes. The 1800 block of South Jackson Street sits in a section of the district that has seen development pressure in recent years.
The just-before-7-p.m. timing means the stabbing occurred during evening hours when many residents are home from work. The fact that the victim was found inside an apartment suggests this was not a random street attack but likely involved people who knew each other or had some prior connection.
The serious condition designation indicates life-threatening injuries requiring intensive medical intervention. Stabbing victims can suffer damage to vital organs, major blood vessels, or other critical structures depending on wound location and depth.
Harborview Medical Center serves as the region’s Level 1 trauma center, equipped to handle the most severe injuries. Transport to Harborview rather than a closer hospital suggests the severity of the victim’s condition warranted specialized trauma care.
The 21-year-old suspect’s youth raises questions about the relationship between victim and attacker. Domestic violence incidents, roommate disputes, or other personal conflicts could explain the apartment setting.
The suspect fleeing on foot before police arrived indicates she left immediately after the stabbing rather than remaining at the scene. This flight suggests consciousness of guilt, though the specific circumstances remain unknown.
The involvement of a King County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team demonstrates the seriousness with which authorities treated the search. Police dogs can track scent trails and locate hiding suspects that human officers might miss.
The unsuccessful search suggests the suspect either had transportation waiting nearby, found shelter with someone willing to hide her, or simply got far enough away that the search perimeter didn’t capture her location.
The ongoing investigation into circumstances means detectives are likely interviewing witnesses, examining the crime scene for evidence, and working to establish a timeline of events. Understanding what led to the violence helps determine appropriate charges.
The request for public tips indicates police believe witnesses or people with knowledge of the incident may not have come forward yet. Tips to the Violent Crimes line can be submitted anonymously, potentially encouraging people hesitant to get involved to share information.
