A 19-year-old transgender University of Washington student has been found dead in a campus housing laundry room with more than 40 stab wounds, and police are investigating the killing as a homicide.
Seattle police said officers responded around 10:10 p.m. Sunday after a 911 call reported an unresponsive person in the laundry room of the Nordheim Court apartments, an off-campus housing complex used by UW students near the university's Seattle campus.
First responders attempted life-saving measures, but the student was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later confirmed the victim was a 19-year-old transgender woman enrolled at the university, according to ABC News.
According to information released by the Seattle Police Department and reported by national outlets, the victim suffered more than 40 stab wounds, primarily to the head, neck, and upper body, indicating what authorities described as an extremely violent attack.
The King County Medical Examiner's Office is working to complete the autopsy and formally confirm the cause and manner of death, as well as publicly release the victim's name once next of kin notifications are complete.
Police said homicide detectives have gathered surveillance video from inside the building and released images of a man wanted in connection with the killing, asking the public for help identifying him.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned Black male believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, of thin build, and was last seen wearing a dark blue full-zip top over a white collared shirt, blue jeans, and dark shoes with a light sole.
Authorities said the man should be considered armed and dangerous and urged anyone with information to contact the department's Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000, Good Morning America reported.
The University of Washington said in a statement that it is cooperating with the Seattle Police Department and providing support services to students and staff affected by the killing.
University President Robert Jones acknowledged that violence against a trans person can be especially distressing for LGBTQIA+ community members and said campus counseling and crisis resources have been made available.
Officials have not released any information about a possible motive and said the circumstances leading up to the attack remain under active investigation.
Residents at Nordheim Court were initially advised via the university's alert system to shelter in place and secure their doors and windows until police determined there was no immediate ongoing threat in the area. Detectives continue to process evidence and conduct interviews as they work to identify and locate the suspect, as per People.
Originally published on Lawyer Herald
