Trans UW student stabbed to death in off-campus housing, search for suspect underway

A transgender student at the University of Washington was found stabbed to death at an off-campus student housing complex on Sunday night, Seattle Police said. The suspect is still at large.

Police said they responded to reports of a stabbing at Nordheim Court at around 10:10 pm, where they found a victim in one of the building’s laundry rooms. Despite life-saving attempts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Police are searching for a suspect who is believed to be a black male with a beard, around 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 in height, and was wearing a vest, button-up shirt, and blue jeans. 

Seattle Police Department Detective Eric Muñoz said the victim is "believed to be a 19-year-old transgender female," per NBC News. 

University President Robert Jones said in a statement, "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." 

Residents of the student complex had been told to stay indoors and lock their windows and doors, but that alert was lifted around 1 am. The student was found in the laundry room of building 7, one of two laundry facilities in the eight-building complex.