Stabbing victim collapses on Ave.

Kayla Webley
2005-10-21
The Daily

A man stabbed in the U-District collapsed after staggering to the corner of 47th Avenue Northeast and University Way Northeast between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. last night, eyewitnesses said.

According to the initial Seattle Police Department (SPD) report, the 17-year-old victim had been stabbed once in the abdomen.

The stabbing allegedly occurred in the parking lot behind the Bank of America location on University Way Northeast, although SPD public information officer Rich Pruitt said police are uncertain if that was the incident's actual location.

"[The victim] was treated at the scene by the Seattle Fire Department and transported to Harborview Medical Center with what appeared to be a non-life-threatening wound," Pruitt said.

Members of the outreach program TeenHOPE were giving out food and blankets across the street when the victim appeared "limping" east on 47th holding his left side and yelling "I've been stabbed," they said.

A witness called 911 while others brought blankets to aid the man.

When TeenHOPE member Angelika Bowerman brought the victim a blanket, she said she saw "an actual stab wound, but it wasn't bleeding very much."

The suspect ran away in an unknown direction, and has not been taken into custody, Pruitt said.

SPD had yet to determine the motive behind the stabbing. Bowerman, who spoke to the victim, said he told her he had no idea about the suspect.

"[The victim] said [the suspect] came out of nowhere -- he didn't even see him," she said.