A convicted felon was allegedly caught on surveillance video stabbing an Asian man nearly 20 times on a Seattle light rail train in what the prosecuting attorney is calling a “random and incredibly violent” attack, Fox News reported.
Ishmail Brown is charged with first- and second-degree assault in connection with the July 21 attack on Tin Vi Pham, the cable network said, citing documents filed in the Superior Court of Washington for King County.
What are the details?
Brynn Jacobson, King County senior deputy prosecuting attorney, wrote in the court filing that “the victim happened to be on the light rail at the same time as the defendant, sitting towards the back of the train. The defendant got up and attempted to open the doors, as if he missed his stop. He then turned back around, approached the victim and began to stab him without any provocation,” Fox News said.
“The victim was essentially trapped in his seat as the defendant plunged the knife down from above, over and over again,” Jacobson added, according to the cable network. “The other passengers scrambled to find a way to help the victim once they realized what was happening. One passenger resorted to using his bag as a shield as others helped the victim escape while another threw his shoes at the defendant.”
Image source: Fox News video screenshot
Jacobson added that the victim “suffered 18 stab wounds and required emergency medical care,” Fox News noted.
The Vietnamese victim suffered stabs or cuts on both of his legs and hands as well as to the left of his face, Fox News added, citing court documents.
“The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH-AM first obtained the video, the cable network noted.
What happened to the suspect?
Jacobsen said the attack was “both random and incredibly violent” and called Brown “a serious danger to the community,” Fox News said, adding that the state requested bail to be set at $1.5 million due to the likelihood that Brown may commit a violent offense.
July 25 court documents reflect that while a probable cause hearing was held on the matter, bail had not been set because Brown refused to appear, the cable network added.
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Prosecutors note that Brown has felony convictions from 2008 for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and from 2016 for second-degree arson. He also has misdemeanor convictions for reckless driving in 2002, reckless driving/racing in 2004 and misdemeanor DV no contact order violation in 2014.
Court documents say Brown would not speak with officers on scene but was advised of his Miranda Rights and brought to King County Jail.
The cable network said Brown was “declined” at the jail for some reason and sent to the Harborview Medical Center.
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