Police are still searching for the suspect who stabbed a 19-year-old University of Washington student to death in the laundry room of Nordheim Court on Sunday.
SEATTLE — Police still looking for suspect A 19-year-old University of Washington student was stabbed to death. What happened late Sunday night in the laundry room of the Nordheim Court off-campus housing complex has the surrounding community on edge.
The attack took place at Nordheim Court just after 10pm on Sunday. Officials have identified the victim as a 19-year-old transgender woman, who has not yet been formally identified by medical examiners. No suspect has been named and no motive has been determined.
With the killer still missing, the student body became concerned. Joelle, a UW student and Nordheim Court resident, expressed the uncertainty that many are feeling.
“If he’s at large, I don’t know what that means for the security here,” she said. “We don’t know his motives. We don’t know if he’s going to come back.”
The sentiment extends beyond the residential complex to nearby neighbors.
“We need to know who it is,” said Luzana, who lives near the scene.
UW President Robert J. Jones issued a statement acknowledging the pain this attack has caused the campus community and specifically recognizing its potential impact on LGBTQIA+ students.
“While investigators have not yet identified a suspect or motive, I want to recognize that when violence affects trans people, it is especially concerning for members of our LGBTQIA+ community,” Jones wrote.
Despite the grief, residents said the tragedy has brought some people closer together. Mourners have been leaving flowers and supporting each other inside the building.
“I’m a student too. It’s really sad to see such a young man pass away,” Oscar Ramirez said.
“In a terrible way, I got to know the Nordheim residents and my neighbors a lot better, basically because everyone came together,” Joel said.
Daily life has changed for some people living in the complex. Residents described the new security precautions they have taken, with Joel noting that she barricaded her doors at night.
“Now we have an armchair by the door in the evenings,” she said. “At night, you start to remember it or you get freaked out.”
“No matter what precautions were taken, whether he was caught or not, this is something you can’t undo. This is something that will forever hang over this building,” Joel added.
University Student Life is contacting affected students and offering support and resources.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crime Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Accept anonymous tips.
