Petworth Library stabbing leaves 1 dead, bystanders restrain suspect

A man has died after being stabbed in the Petworth Public Library in D.C. Thursday night.

Around 7 p.m., a man seated at a computer in the neighborhood library was followed in by a man who assaulted him. He was stabbed in the neck and died on the scene, police said.



According to Executive Assistant Chief Ashan Benedict, two people, known to the department as unhoused, were involved in an altercation with one fatally stabbing the other.

Other people inside the library were able to restrain the suspect until the police arrived.

“They intervened,” Benedict said. “They stopped this individual from continuing his attack. They disarmed him. They held him until police arrived.”

The suspect is in custody and is expected to be charged.

Ciara Wells

Ciara Wells is the Evening Digital Editor at WTOP. She is a graduate of American University where she studied journalism and Spanish. Before joining WTOP, she was the opinion team editor at a student publication and a content specialist at an HBCU in Detroit.

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