SEATTLE — Seattle police say they are investigating a homicide after a student was stabbed to death at a University of Washington campus housing building late Sunday night.
At around 10:10 p.m. Sunday, UW police officers responded to a stabbing at the Nordheim Court Apartments, building 7, on 25th Ave. NE
Although the apartment is located off-campus, the building is part of UW’s campus housing, according to a police report from SPD. According to its website, though, it is privately managed.
Early Tuesday morning, SPD confirmed to KIRO 7 that responding police had found a 19-year-old woman in the laundry room of the apartment building.
Despite efforts from officers and the Seattle Fire Department, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The King County Medical Examiner will identify the woman in the coming days.
“We are unable to confirm the identity of the student who was killed in the laundry room at Nordheim Court Building 7 until the student’s family has been notified, and we will respect their privacy throughout this process. No suspect has been identified and no motive for this crime has been established. Nordheim Court is operated by Greystar, and the UW is working with Greystar to ensure residents there are receiving support and resources in light of this tragedy. The Seattle Police Department is leading the homicide investigation and questions specifically about the investigation should be directed to SPD,” a university spokesperson said.
Campus police cordoned off the area, and Nordheim Court residents were told to stay indoors while Seattle police took over the investigation.
Just before 1 a.m., the residents were told they no longer needed to remain inside their homes, but the death investigation remained ongoing.
As of 4 a.m. Tuesday, Seattle police were still investigating the circumstances leading up to the murder.
Police are “actively searching” for the suspect. Police say he is believed to be a black man, who is about 5′6″ or 5′7″, with a slim build, black hair, and a beard. He was last seen wearing a button-up shirt under a dark blue vest and blue jeans.
If you have any information or see someone matching that description, call 911. You can also call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted.
Residents of the apartment complex told us they were concerned about how the suspect gained access to the laundry room, which they said was secure.
“That’s also what I’m kind of concerned about, is that somebody may have access to this thing, and the suspect may have been a resident here, or, you know, have gained entry somehow,” said resident and UW student Nico Zheng.
The incident has Tramon Jones reconsidering his living situation. He says it makes him “more weary” about staying at the property.
“How does that happen?” he told KIRO 7.
Tramon said incidents like this were not common at the property.
“Death, no,” he said. “But people getting in, just being on the property when they’re not supposed to, finding a way in at night, even when we try to kick them out? Yeah. Often.”
UW highlighted the following resources for those who might need support:
- UW Counseling Center: UW’s Counseling Center provides a variety of options for support, including the 24/7 Husky HelpLine.
- SafeCampus is available to discuss (anonymously or otherwise) safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others by calling 206-685-7233 or via email at safecampus@uw.edu. Their skilled team of violence prevention specialists are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., excluding UW holidays.
- Husky Assist is the UW mobile response team that provides on-site behavioral health support for students, faculty and staff in crisis on the UW campus in Seattle. You can call on Husky Assist when you or a student, faculty or staff member on campus is facing an urgent mental health or substance use issue. Husky Assist team members are trained mental health professionals who can respond compassionately to a variety of situations. Call 206-543-9331or 911 to reach Husky Assist for help on the Seattle campus.
- Staff also have resources available via the Washington State Employee Assistance Program (WA EAP).
In a statement, UW president Robert J. Jones said:
“I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and loved ones of the UW student who was killed late last night. There are no words that can express the profound loss of a student.
While investigators have not yet identified a suspect or a motive, I want to recognize that when violence affects a trans person it can be especially worrying to our LGBTQIA+ community members. Our Division of Student Life is reaching out to students affected and providing support and resources to help them through this very difficult ordeal.
We are grateful to the Seattle Police Department homicide division for leading the investigation as they work to find the person responsible for this horrendous crime."
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