A woman walking in the 9000 block of Holman Road near Mary Ave. was stabbed by an unknown assailant last night, Seattle Police say. The weapon was a small pocket knife, and fortunately her injuries were not critical. My Ballard reader Silver posted the incident in the forum last night, and today police released more details of the frightening crime.
“She noticed a male who appeared to be following her,” police said, explaining that she went inside a gas station, but he was waiting for her when she came out. “As she attempted to walk by him, the male grabbed her around the neck and chest from behind and then stabbed her with an unknown object in the lower back,” the police report says. “The victim struggled to get away, falling out into the street in front of a witness who was driving by on Holman Rd. The witness stopped to assist and the suspect walked off southbound on Holman Rd.”
Officers searched the area but were unable to find the suspect. They did not provide a suspect description, likely because the description provided by the victim was too vague: a white male in his thirties, heavy build, wearing either a dark hoodie or jacket. (Thanks Tehama, Ken and Silver for your tips!)
I saw this on the news last night. Very strange story. I'm glad someone stopped to help and that the injuries weren't serious.
Wow….my condolences to the unfortunate victim. How scary.
I wonder if the man had some sort of motive or if it was random? I gotta say, as a lady random violence crimes scare the sh*t outta me. I need a self defense class pronto!
Why did she leave the gas station? She knew he was following her. Isn't this the same description of the suspect in another assault last week?
For women who are interested in techniques for self-defense against would-be attackers, check out http://www.justyellfire.com for some great tips and a free video.
Time to get a gun.
they just said on the news that she was leaving work at Dick's. So, I'm guessing she is young… that is so sad.
…and really too close to home for me.
That's what *I* was thinking! Isn't this a similar attack to one last week, and in the same area? Jesus.
Welcome to LA. I guess like unemployment, we all have to get used to a high crime rate too then? Is this also the “price we pay for living in s big city”? Can we expect a safer city under new management soon? Why isn't crime a priority? Yes Virginia, there ARE priorities, like public safety. Recitivism: about 10% of the people committing roughly 85% of the crime(s). I guess these people are NOT looking for work and are seriously under-employed.
I'm sure the reason she left the gas station is the general disbelief that something like this was actually happening to her. So many crime victims and witnesses/bystanders will just stand there like a deer in the headlights because what is happening is so out of the norm that they don't compute that is in fact actually happening and happening to them. I don't blame her at all. Yes it would have been smarter to hang around the gas station and call the police, but since our police are so understaffed I wonder if that would have even registered as a priority call and gotten a timely response.
I'm pretty sure I heard on KCTS the other night that Mike McGinn is holding a Town Hall meeting on Monday, Nov. 30th at the Northgate Community Center. I'm not able to find that info online to verify it but this would be a great opportunity to tell Mike to get the crime problems under control in this city and to educate him on the upsurge in crime we've been dealing with and to make this a top priority.
http://www.phinneywood.com/2009/11/22/mayor-ele…
This IS a great video, and every woman, young or old should watch it. The world IS full of whackos, and no one is immune. Remember Ted Bundy? The Green River Killer? BTW, what every one should know is that IF you are abducted, once you are in someone else's car, your chances of being killed (according to the FBI) are 100%. I would urge every woman to buy, and read the book “The Gift of Fear.” It may save your life.
You may or may not recall that on August 1st, I stepped between a young lady (drunk) and a complete stranger who was trying to force her into his car. (no, I am not looking for kudos.)
Did anyone see this guy follow this woman? Did anyone step in and say “hey, that's not right, call the cops?” SPG is right, below: most people cannot believe what is happening.
What the perpetrator of crimes against women (or men, for that matter) has on his side is the element of suprise. Women, especially, have to be more aware of their surroundings, 100% of the time,.
BTW, please don't blame the victim.
I hope they catch this guy. I'll bet you he's one of the local transients who has been let loose on society instead of being locked up in Western State Hospital.
I was reading the description of the suspect. Any more details on his clothes? There is a fellow who I had a run in with last Spring who, when I see him around town, is consistently wearing a medium grey flannel shirt/jacket with a blue and white plaid pattern, it's very faint with the blue and white plaid lines. He has graying hair/peppered hair and was also wearing a chain necklace. I would describe him as barrel chested and thick, but not heavy. He also has very blue eyes.
I've had two interactions with him. The first was walking down the street and he asked me to talk and I said I didn't have time to talk (pushing my children in the stroller) and he started yelling at me and walking after me for a 1/2 block. The second time he saw me in my car (this was about three weeks later) and started yelling at me from the street.
Wow
A guy matching that description was actually in my doorway the other night.
I only saw the side of his face but graying temples and it looked like his hair was shaved on the side.
I caught him walking down my apartment entryway away from me then lingering in the driveway area.
The news said she is 26, an employee of Dick's and was leaving work, walking home. Scary stuff. It's not like this occurred at midnight – this was 7pm.
I'm not blaming her, I don't think motorrad was either.
I was referring to the other similar attack when I said “that's what I was thinking”.
This is why good people need to carry guns, because bad people carry weapons and do things like this for no reason at all. The police can't stop things like this, we have to take it upon ourselves to protect us and others.
What would adding a gun in this situation have done? She was surprised, grabbed around the neck and fell into the street. If she'd been able to grab her weapon he might have just overpowered her and used it against her – or she may have shot wildly and injured someone driving by, etc. Just having a gun doesn't make you safe.