Bend man identified as suspect in mass stabbing at Salem shelter; 5 of 12 victims remain in critical condition
KGW
(Update: Mass stabbing suspect identified as Bend man; more details)
SALEM, Ore. (KGW) — A Bend man has been identified by police as the man who stabbed a dozen people Sunday night at a men’s shelter in Salem, one more than initially reported. Five remain in critical condition, Salem police said Monday morning.
Police identified the suspect who is in custody as Tony Latrell Williams, 42, of Bend. A preliminary investigation suggests that it was not a targeted attack, but the investigation is ongoing.
“Last night, a terrible thing happened in Salem,” Salem Mayor Julie Hoy told reporters Monday morning.
At about 7:15 p.m., Salem police officers responded to a report that multiple people had been stabbed at the Union Gospel Mission Salem of Men’s Mission, which is located at 777 Commercial Street Northeast.
Salem police on Sunday night said 11 victims were taken to Salem Health, each with “varying types of injuries.” One additional victim was discovered when officers were interviewing witnesses, Salem Police Deputy Treven Upkes said while speaking with reporters Monday morning.
The victims include two Union Gospel Mission staff members and 10 guests who were at the shelters or were sitting outside, Upkes said. All are men between the ages of 26 and 57.
Upkes said Williams was traveling on an inter-city bus service from Portland to Deschutes County when he got off in Salem on Saturday. Reportedly, he arrived at the shelter Sunday evening just before police received reports of the attack.
He faces charges on 12 counts of second-degree assault, a Class B felony. Salem police said the investigation remains ongoing and charges could be upgraded.
Police said at this time, they do not know the motive or circumstances that led up to the attack.
Hoy said she first learned of the incident late Sunday night via a text. She said she experienced “shock and disbelief” that something like this could happen.
“Most concerned with those who are still in the hospital and those who were just there,” she said. “It’s a difficult thing to process.”
The suspect is scheduled to appear in court later Monday.
The men’s shelter opened in 2021, replacing a decades-old facility and nearly doubling the mission’s shelter capacity with 284 beds in the 57,000-square-foot facility.
KGW’s Sabinna Pierre contributed reporting to this article.