POLICE: Transgender student stabbed to death at UW apartment, suspect on the run

SEATTLE — Seattle police say they are investigating a homicide after a transgender 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.

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.

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. It’s also not known if the victim was a student or someone visiting.

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.

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).