Good Samaritans beat down would-be killer who went on a mass stabbing spree

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Authorities have arrested the person they believe is responsible for injuring six people during an unprovoked stabbing spree on a street in Northeast D.C.

According to FOX5, the attacks began around 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd as the suspect made his way down Montello Avenue near Riggs Place, just east of the Gallaudet University campus. Following the incident, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith said that the suspect was high on an unknown substance when he began stabbing the victims, which were identified as four women and two men. 

The suspect also stabbed himself and was taken to the hospital. All six victims are alive and being treated at local hospitals. Neighbors said that the victims were all residents in the area, but that the man who did the stabbing appeared to be a stranger. Early investigations indicate that one of the female victims was an acquaintance who was with suspect, but it appears the rest of the victims were targeted at random and the attack itself was unprovoked.

One witness told authorities that the suspect said, "Everybody is getting stabbed today."

The ANC Commissioner for the neighborhood, Salvador Sauceda-Guzman, was at the scene moments after the attacks. He said that the community was shocked by the violent crime, adding, "We do know at least three of them are women, specifically, that were of mixed race. One was a senior citizen. She was trying to protect her granddaughter, also one of our other neighbors, so we're just trying to figure out what exactly is going on and specifically how they're doing right now because it just happened ... we're just in shock."

Police said that two people stepped in and intervened after witnessing the attacks. Smith said, "Two good Samaritans — and we're very grateful for them this afternoon — tried to intervene in the suspect's assault and were among those who [were] injured." The suspect was taken into custody and a knife was recovered near him at the scene.

ABC News reported that at the press briefing, Smith said that the officers responded within minutes. She said, "Officers arrived on scene in less than a minute and located numerous people suffering from stab wounds."

Smith said that the suspect began stabbing himself first while walking down the street before stabbing a female acquaintance with was with him. He then stabbed others who were outside on the block as well as two good Samaritans who tried to intervene. Smith said, "This incident highlights the need for assistance of substance abuse issues in our communities."

Smith commended the two good Samaritans who tried to help, though she warned against trying to intervene in such incidents. She said, "Even though we're grateful for their intervention, we would ask that individuals who see incidents such as this to not intervene because these two individuals, although good Samaritans, were also stabbed as part of this assault."