A 19-year-old University of Washington student was found stabbed to death inside a campus-adjacent apartment complex late Sunday night, and the suspect has not yet been caught, Seattle police said.
Officers responding to the Nordheim Court housing complex around 10:10 p.m. on May 10 discovered the victim in a laundry room. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Police identified the victim as a transgender woman. Her name has not been released pending notification of her family.
“This individual just committed a homicide; they should be considered armed and dangerous.” — Det. Eric Muñoz, Seattle Police Department
Investigators are searching for a Black male suspect described as being between 25 and 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a beard. He was last seen wearing a vest over a button-up shirt and blue jeans, and fled the scene after the killing, police said.
Det. Muñoz told reporters that investigators do not believe anyone else is currently at risk, but stressed the urgency of finding the suspect.
“It’s important we catch them and bring them to justice as fast as we can,” Muñoz said.
UW President Robert Jones released a statement expressing condolences to the student’s family and acknowledged the particular concern the attack may cause within the university’s LGBTQ+ community.
“There are no words that can express the profound loss of a student. When violence affects a trans person, it can be especially worrying to our LGBTQIA+ community members.” — UW President Robert Jones
The circumstances leading up to the killing and any possible motive remain under investigation, university police said. No arrests have been made as of publication time.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Seattle Police Department.
