Jun 3, 2025
A brutal stabbing attack at the Union Gospel Mission in Salem, Oregon, left a dozen people injured on Sunday night, prompting a swift response from local authorities. According to police, a man armed with an eight-inch knife entered the shelter’s lobby around 7:15 p.m. and began stabbing individuals after engaging them in conversation. Several victims were hurt trying to intervene, and the attacker then exited the building and continued stabbing people seated outside. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Tony Williams, was arrested across the street shortly afterward. Eleven victims, including two shelter staff members, were transported to the hospital, while a twelfth was identified during witness interviews. The victims, all men between 26 and 57, sustained various injuries, with five remaining hospitalized in serious condition.
Authorities have not determined a motive but indicated the attack did not appear to specifically target homeless individuals. The shelter’s executive director, Craig Smith, confirmed that both staff members injured remain hospitalized and that the shelter is now reassessing its safety protocols. Salem police revealed that Williams had arrived in the city by bus from Portland the day before the attack. Mayor Julie Hoy expressed shock over the incident, stating the community is deeply shaken. Witnesses described the chaos, with some comparing the scene to a horror movie, as blood covered the floors and victims lay outside. The shelter, which serves up to 150 men nightly, now faces the difficult task of healing and securing its facilities in the wake of the violence.
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SOURCE: AP News