Man’s stabbing death in Bothell was ‘unprovoked,’ ‘random’ say witnesses

A 29-year-old man who was visiting a Bothell apartment complex was stabbed to death by a 25-year-old apartment resident as he exited the building, according to Bothell police. Some witnesses told KIRO 7 the sudden violent attack appeared unprovoked. They said the two men had never met.

Man killed in Bothell stabbing

According to witnesses, the victim and a man he was with were Asian American, and they were among several other people visiting the apartment complex for a business meeting.

Witnesses said when the two Asian-American men walked through the door to leave the building, they were immediately confronted by a 25-year-old Caucasian man, now suspected of murder, who lives on the third floor of the building.

Witnesses said the suspect gave the finger to the two Asian-American men as they exited. And when one of them asked, “What’s the matter with you?” witnesses said the suspect lunged with a knife and stabbed the victim in the heart.

They said the suspect then tried to attack the other Asian-American man, but he managed to escape the attack.

“It sure seemed like they were targeted because they were Asian,” said one witness, who asked not to be identified by name but reported the stabbing to Bothell police.

The 25-year-old suspect was arrested by police in his apartment minutes later. Witnesses said he showed no remorse, and he was silent.

Now he’s facing murder charges. But what Bothell police can’t say yet is if they’re investigating this as a potential hate crime. Bothell police said there were eight to 10 people who might have seen the attack, and they’re telling detectives different things.

A home video shot by a neighbor gives a glimpse at the life-saving efforts made by Bothell police and people on the street. As police desperately put pressure on the wound, others ran to flag down King County paramedics, who would try an unprecedented field blood transfusion on the spot, but they could not save the victim’s life.

The suspect, who does not appear to have a criminal record, will appear in King County Superior Court on Tuesday.

By Gary Horcher, KIRO 7 News