Dispute over noise complaint at Seattle apartment ends in stabbing, prosecutors say

SEATTLE — A 43-year-old Seattle man was charged in King County Superior Court with first-degree assault in connection with a stabbing.

The incident is alleged to have happened on June 14 around 2 p.m. in the 2600 block of 4th Avenue.

In charging documents, prosecutors said Erin Holland Morgan stabbed a neighbor five times during a mediation meeting.

Police said Morgan had made noise complaints over the victim's music and was arrested on June 9 for damaging the neighbor’s door with a baseball bat over the issue.

Morgan was released in connection with damaging the door on June 10 and a no contact order was issued barring him from contacting the neighbor.

Morgan requested a mediation meeting, and prosecutors said he met with the neighbor in the apartment manager’s office on June 14. Another woman was present in the meeting, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said during the meeting the neighbor agreed to play his music at a lower volume, but failed to agree to not play music at all causing Morgan “to snap.”

“After he 'snapped' the defendant struck the victim in the head with a closed fist, hit him with a chair, and then proceeded to stab him at least five times in the head and  neck area in front of the apartment manager and the other woman,” prosecutors wrote in charging documents.

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Officials said the apartment manager was able to open the office door and a witness intervened and stopped the attack.

Morgan fled and the victim suffered stab wounds near his left eye, right neck, right shoulder and upper right arm, according to prosecutors.

The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center and later was released from the hospital.

Morgan was arrested June 18.

In probable cause documents, police said Morgan admitted to the attack and said while he was sorry for his actions, the victim deserved it.

Morgan’s criminal history includes convictions for harassment, a sex crime involving a child, domestic violence assault, among others.

Morgan remains in jail in lieu of a $500,000 bail. His arraignment, where he will enter a plea, is expected in July.

Prosecutors cited Morgan’s criminal history, danger he poses to the community, and the risk of flight as reasons for the $500,000 bail.

Cox Media Group